Halite belongs to which mineral group

Salt is a mineral that everyone knows. Halite structure: This diagram shows the arrangement of sodium and chloride ions in a crystal of halite. The best way to learn about minerals is to study with a collection of small specimens that you can handle, examine, and observe their properties. Inexpensive mineral collections are available in the Geology.

Physical Properties of Halite Chemical Classification Halide Color Colorless or white when pure; impurities produce any color but usually yellow, gray, black, brown, red Streak White Luster Vitreous Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent Cleavage Perfect, cubic, three directions at right angles Mohs Hardness 2. Some minerals are toxic or contaminated by other people tasting them.

Chemical Composition NaCl Crystal System Isometric Uses Winter road treatment, a source of sodium and chlorine for chemical processes, food preservation, seasoning. Find Other Topics on Geology.

Maps Volcanoes World Maps. Oxide minerals have oxygen O 2— as their anion, but they exclude those with oxygen complexes such as carbonate CO 3 2— , sulphate SO 4 2— , and silicate SiO 4 4—. The most important oxides are the iron oxides hematite and magnetite Fe 2 O 3 and Fe 3 O 4 , respectively. Both of these are important ores of iron. Corundum Al 2 O 3 is an abrasive, but can also be a gemstone in its ruby and sapphire varieties.

If the oxygen is also combined with hydrogen to form the hydroxyl anion OH — the mineral is known as a hydroxide. Some important hydroxides are limonite and bauxite, which are ores of iron and aluminium respectively. Sulphides are minerals with the S —2 anion, and they include galena PbS , sphalerite ZnS , chalcopyrite CuFeS 2 , and molybdenite MoS 2 , which are the most important ores of lead, zinc, copper, and molybdenum respectively.

Sulphide minerals tend to have a metallic sheen. Many sulphate minerals form when sulphate-bearing water evaporates. A deposit of sulphate minerals may indicate that a lake or sea has dried up at that location. Sulphates with calcium include anhydrite, and gypsum Figure 5. Sulphates with barium and strontium are barite and celestite, respectively.

The anions in halides are the halogen elements including chlorine, fluorine, and bromine. Examples of halide minerals are cryolite, fluorite, and halite Figure 5. Halide minerals are made of ionic bonds. Like the sulphates, some halides also form when mineral-rich water evaporates.

The copper minerals malachite and azurite are also carbonates. In the phosphates, phosphorus, arsenic, or vanadium bond to oxygen to form a tetrahedra. There are many different minerals in the phosphate group, but most are rare Figure below. Sulfate minerals contain sulfur atoms bonded to oxygen atoms. Like halides, they form where salt water evaporates. The sulfate group contains many different minerals, but only a few are common. Gypsum is a common sulfate with a variety of appearances Figure below.

Some gigantic meter gypsum crystals have been found. That is about as long as a school bus! Although the orange crystals on the left looks nothing like the white sands on the right, both the crystals and sands are gypsum. Sulfides are formed when metallic elements combine with sulfur.

Unlike sulfates, sulfides do not contain oxygen. People may mistake pyrite for gold because the two minerals are shiny, metallic, and yellow in color. Skip to main content. Search for:. Identify the groups in which minerals are classified and their characteristics.

Vocabulary chemical compound crystal inorganic mineral silicates Introduction Minerals are categorized based on their chemical composition. What is a Mineral? The structure of calcite shows the relationship of calcium Ca , carbon C , and oxygen O. One silicon atom bonds to four oxygen atoms to form a silica tetrahedron. Calcite is the most common carbonate mineral. Two carbonate minerals: a deep blue azurite and b opaque green malachite.