Lecture 5 Oxides Hydroxides Carbonates and Phosphates

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Lecture 5

Systematic Description of Minerals

Oxides, Hydroxides, Carbonates, Phosphates


Oxides
Three main groups based on metal cation/oxygen ratios (impurities not shown)
Hematite Group (X2O3) Corundum X=Al+3
most phases hexagonal Hematite X=Fe+3
Ilmenite X= (Fe+2,Ti+4) solid solution)

Rutile Group (XO2) Rutile X=Ti


x- +4 cation Pyrolusite X=Mn
most phases tetragonal Cassiterite X=Sn
Uraninite X=U

Spinel Group (XY2O4) Spinel X=Mg, Y=Al


X- +2 ; Y- +3 cation Magnetite X=Fe+2, Y=Fe+3
most phases isometric Chromite X=Fe+2, Y=Cr
or orthorhombic Chrysoberyl X=Be, Y=Al
Ulvospinel X=Ti+4, Y=Fe+2
Hematite Group
X2O3

Hematite, ferric Irons Fe+3


in octahedral coordination
(C.N. = 6) with
Oxygen ions O-2
For example this one
Rutile Group Rutile, Titanium ions Ti+4
in octahedral coordination
(C.N. = 6) with
Oxygen ions O-2

TiO2
Spinel Group (XY2O4)
e.g Magnetite Fe+2Fe+32O4

Gem-quality
Spinels
Other Common Oxides in color
Rutile (TiO2) Corundum (Al2O3)
Hardness=9

Rutile needles in
Quartz

Pyrolusite (MnO2) Blue = Sapphire


Red = Ruby
Chrysoberyl (BeAl2O4)

Mass of botryoidal
Pyrolusite
Pyrolusite dendrites Cyclic twinning
on surface in Chrysoberyl
Hydroxides

(OH)- main anionic group forming octahedrally coordinated


sheets with weak bonds between.

Two structural types: Gibbsite-type Al(OH)3


Brucite-type Mg(OH)2 dioctahedral sheets (only two
trioctahedral sheets (all of three octahedral sites are
octahedral cation sites are filled with Al+3) WHY?
filled with Mg++)
Common Types of Hydroxides
Brucite Mg(OH)2 Gibbsite Al(OH)3

Manganite MnO(OH) Diaspore AlO(OH)

Pronunciations:
Gear-tight
Goethite FeO(OH)
Go-eth-thite Bauxite Al-hydroxide*
Gurrr-tite

Seem to vary with


region
Carbonates

Aragonite Calcite
(High-P) Orthorhombic (Low-P - Hexagonal)

Most are Hexagonal


Calcite Structure

Calcite
Aragonite Group
Carbonate minerals with a single divalent cation of radius > 1.00 Å. With
increasing radius the species are Aragonite (CaCO3), Strontianite (SrCO3),
Cerussite (PbCO3), and Witherite (BaCO3). Aragonite is denser than calcite,
and is the high P polymorph. It crystallizes at ambient conditions and persists
metastably for millions of years. The orthorhombic structure is nearly
hexagonal with c as the unique axis.
Dolomite CaMg(CO3)2

Forms during seasonal high tides that flood limestone (calcite) islands
with seawater. Mg++ in the seawater replaces some of the Calcium ions.

Has very distinctive crystals


Other Carbonates
Azurite - Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 (Blue)
Malachite – Cu2CO3(OH)2 (Green)

Rhodochrosite – MnCO3
Borates

Kernite – Na2B4O6(OH)2·3H2O
H – 3; SG – 1.95

Borax - Na2B4O5(OH)4·8H2O
H – 2-2.5; SG – 1.7

Ulexite – NaCaB5O6(OH)6·5H2O
H – 1-2.5; SG – 1.96
Tungstates & Molybdates
Wolframite – (Fe,Mn)WO4
SG: 7-7.5

Scheelite – CaWO4
SG: ~6

Wulfenite – PbMoO4
SG: 6.8
Phosphates
 Apatite – Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)
 prismatic hexagonal crystals
 common in igneous rocks and
hydrothermal deposits
- variable colors “the deceiver”
Other Common Phosphates
Monazite – (Ce,La,Y,Th)PO4
Ore mineral for Rare Earth Elements
Useful mineral in U-Pb and Th age dating

Wavellite – Al3(PO4)2(OH)3·5H2O
Radiating globular aggregates

Turquoise –
CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·5H2O

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