Some Major Minerals and their Characteristics

Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic solids with a chemical composition that is fixed. Solids are called minerals when they are in their pure, natural state. Minerals are found in the earth’s crust, either in pure or impure form, or they exist in seawater or underground water.

Feldspar

• Half of the earth’s crust is composed of feldspar.
• It has light cream to salmon pink colour.
• It is used in ceramics and glass making.

Quartz

• It is one of the most important components of sand and granite.
• It consists of silica.
• It is a hard mineral virtually insoluble in water.

Pyroxene

• Pyroxene consists of calcium, aluminium, magnesium, iron and silica.
• Pyroxene forms 10 per cent of the earth’s crust.

Amphibole

• Aluminium, calcium, silica, iron, magnesium are the major elements of amphiboles.
• They form 7 per cent of the earth’s crust.

Mica

• It comprises of potassium, aluminium, magnesium, iron, silica etc.
• It forms 4 per cent of the earth’s crust.
• It is commonly found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.

Olivine

• Magnesium, iron and silica are major elements of olivine.
• It is used in jewellery.