ROCK FORMING MINERALS

Geology for Civil Engineers

ROCK FORMING MINERALS
The Most Abundant Minerals in
Earth's Crust: Known as the
"rock-forming minerals", they
are minerals present at the time
of a rock's formation and are
important minerals in determining
the rock's identity.
ROCK FORMING MINERALS
To be considered a common rock-
forming mineral, a mineral must:
A) be one of the most abundant
minerals in Earth’s crust;
B) be one of the original minerals
present at the time of a crustal
rock’s formation; and,
C) be an important mineral in
determining a rock’s classification.
ROCK FORMING MINERALS
Minerals that easily meet these
criteria include:
• plagioclase feldspars
• alkali feldspars
• quartz
• pyroxenes
• amphiboles
• micas
MINERALS OF THE OCEANIC CRUST
As an example of the influence of BASALT
just a few minerals, let’s consider
the rocks of the oceanic crust.
The oceanic crust is mainly
composed of basalt and gabbro .
These two rock types are made up
of mainly of plagioclase
feldspar and pyrox enes , with
smaller amounts of olivine , GABBRO
m icas and am phiboles . This
small group of minerals makes up
most of the rocks of the oceanic
crust.
MINERALS OF THE CONTINENTAL CRUST
As a second example, let’s
consider the rocks of the
continental crust. The continental GRANITE
crust is made up mainly of
granite rocks. These rocks are
composed mainly of alk ali
feldspar, quartz, and
plagioclase feldspar, with
smaller amounts of am phiboles
and m icas. This small number of
minerals makes up most of the
continental crust.
MINERALS IN THE SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
• Both the oceanic and continental crusts are partly covered with a thin layer of
sedimentary rocks and sediments. These consist mainly of clastic rocks such as
sandstone , siltstone and shale , along with carbonate rocks such as
dolostone and lim estone .
• These clastic rocks are composed of mainly quartz , clay m inerals , and a small
amount of m icas and feldspar minerals.
• The carbonate rocks consist primarily of calcite and dolom ite . A small number
of materials, composed of a small number of minerals, make up most of the
sediment and sedimentary rocks that cover the continents and ocean basins.

SANDSTONE SILTSTONE SHALE

PLAGIOCLASE FELDSPAR
• Plagioclase feldspar is a group of silicate
minerals that belong to the feldspar
family. It is one of the most abundant
mineral groups in Earth's crust and is a
major component of igneous,
metamorphic, and some sedimentary
rocks.
• They are important to dominant minerals
in most igneous rocks of the Earth’s
crust. They are major constituents in a
wide range of intrusive and extrusive
igneous rocks including granite, diorite,
gabbro, rhyolite, andesite, and basalt.
• Plagioclase minerals are important
constituents of many metamorphic rocks,
such as gneiss.
PLAGIOCLASE FELDSPAR
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
• Crystal System: Triclinic
• Color: White, gray, bluish, or greenish
• Hardness: 6–6.5 on Mohs scale
• Cleavage: Two directions at nearly 90°
• Distinguishing Feature: Often has
striations (fine parallel lines on crystal
faces)

APPLICATION
• Plagioclase feldspar is used in ceramics,
glassmaking, and as an industrial
mineral.
ALKALI FELDSPAR
• Alkali feldspar is a group of feldspar
minerals that are rich in potassium (K)
and/or sodium (Na). These minerals
are common in igneous, metamorphic,
and some sedimentary rocks and are one
of the major components of the Earth's
crust.
Composition & Structure
Alkali feldspar consists of a solid solution
series between:
• Orthoclase – potassium-rich
• Albite – sodium-rich
• Sanidine (high-temperature form of alkali
feldspar)
ALKALI FELDSPAR
Key Characteristics
• Crystal System: Monoclinic or triclinic
• Color: Pink, white, gray, or reddish
• Hardness: 6–6.5 on Mohs scale
• Cleavage: Two directions at nearly 90°
Occurrence & Geological Significance
• Igneous Rocks: Found in granite, syenite,
and rhyolite
• Metamorphic Rocks: Present in some
gneisses and schists
Application
• Used in ceramics and glass manufacturing
• Some varieties, such as moonstone and
amazonite, are used as gemstones
QUARTZ
Quartz is one of the most abundant and
widely distributed minerals in the
Earth's crust. It is a silicate mineral with
the chemical formula SiO₂ (silicon
dioxide) and is known for its hardness,
durability, and resistance to weathering.
QUARTZ
Key Characteristics of Quartz
• Crystal System: Hexagonal
• Color: Colorless, white, pink, purple
(amethyst), yellow (citrine), brown
(smoky quartz), and many other
varieties
• Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale
(harder than steel and most common
minerals)
• Cleavage: None (breaks with a
conchoidal fracture)
• Luster: Vitreous (glassy)
• Transparency: Transparent to
translucent
QUARTZ
Occurrence & Geological Significance
Quartz is found in igneous, metamorphic,
and sedimentary rocks and forms in a
variety of geological environments.
• Igneous Rocks: Found in granite,
pegmatite, and rhyolite
• Metamorphic Rocks: Present in
quartzite and schist
• Sedimentary Rocks: A major
component of sandstone and siltstone
QUARTZ
Uses of Quartz
• Construction: Used as an aggregate in
concrete and road materials
• Glass Manufacturing: Primary ingredient
in glass production
• Electronics: Quartz crystals are used in
watches, oscillators, and
semiconductors due to their
piezoelectric properties
• Jewelry & Gemstones: Amethyst,
citrine, and rose quartz are popular
gemstones
PYROXENES
Pyroxenes are a group of silicate minerals that are important components of
igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are part of the inosilicate (chain
silicate) mineral family, characterized by their single-chain structure of
silicon-oxygen tetrahedra.
PYROXENES
Key Characteristics
PYROXENES
Occurrence & Geological Importance
• Igneous Rocks – Found in basalt, gabbro, and andesite
• Metamorphic Rocks – Present in high-grade metamorphic rocks
• Mantle Minerals – Major component of Earth’s mantle
Engineering & Industrial Uses
• Aggregates for Concrete & Road Construction – Some pyroxene-rich rocks
are used as crushed stone.
• Dimension Stones – Some pyroxene-bearing rocks, like gabbro, are used
for countertops and monuments.
• Refractory Materials – High melting points make them useful in ceramics
and fire-resistant applications.
AMPHIBOLES
Amphiboles are a group of inosilicate
(chain silicate) minerals that are
common in igneous and metamorphic
rocks. They are chemically complex,
containing various combinations of
calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg),
iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), sodium
(Na), and hydroxyl (OH) groups.

The two main types of amphiboles are:

✅ Calcium-rich amphiboles (e.g.,
Hornblende, Actinolite)
✅ Sodium-rich amphiboles (e.g.,
Glaucophane, Riebeckite)
AMPHIBOLES
Key Characteristics
• Color: Black, green, brown, blue
• Crystal System: Monoclinic or
Orthorhombic
• Hardness: 5–6 on Mohs scale
• Luster: Vitreous to silky
Occurrence & Geological Importance
• Igneous Rocks – Found in diorite,
andesite, and some granites
• Metamorphic Rocks – Present in
amphibolite and schist
• Hydrothermal Alteration – Some
amphiboles form from the alteration of
pyroxenes
AMPHIBOLES
Engineering & Industrial Uses
• Crushed Stone & Aggregates – Used in
road construction and concrete
production.
• Dimension Stones – Some amphibole-
bearing rocks are used for countertops,
flooring, and monuments.
• Refractory Materials – High heat
resistance makes some amphiboles
useful in fireproof materials.
• Asbestos – Some amphibole minerals,
like tremolite and actinolite, are fibrous
and were used in insulation before
being phased out due to health risks.
MICAS
• Mica minerals are a group of
sheet silicate (phyllosilicate)
minerals known for their perfect
cleavage, flexibility, and thermal
stability.
• They are commonly found in
igneous, metamorphic, and
sedimentary rocks and are
widely used in construction,
electrical, and industrial
applications.
MICAS
Types of Mica Minerals
1. Light-colored (Muscovite
Group)
• Muscovite – Most common,
light-colored, used in insulation
and paints.
• Phlogopite – Brownish, found in
ultramafic rocks.
2. Dark-colored (Biotite Group)
• Biotite – Black or brown, rich in
iron and magnesium.
• Lepidolite – Pink to purple,
contains lithium.
MICAS
Key Characteristics
• Color: White, silver, black, brown, green, pink
• Crystal System: Monoclinic
• Hardness: 2.5–3 on Mohs scale (soft)
• Cleavage: Perfect basal cleavage (splits into thin sheets)
• Luster: Pearly to vitreous
Occurrence & Geological Importance
🔹🔹 Igneous Rocks – Found in granite, pegmatite, and rhyolite.
🔹🔹 Metamorphic Rocks – Common in schist, gneiss, and phyllite.
🔹🔹 Sedimentary Rocks – Present in clays and sandstones.
MICAS
Engineering & Industrial Uses
• Construction Materials – Used in cement, drywall, and roofing shingles
for strength and insulation.
• Electrical Insulation – Heat-resistant, used in capacitors, cables, and
thermal insulation.
• Paints & Coatings – Improves durability and adds shine to coatings.
• Cosmetics & Plastics – Used in foundations, nail polish, and plastics for
shimmer effects.