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Minerals : Classification and Physical properties

Mineral is a naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic compound having fixed chemical composition and atomic structure formed due to inorganic processes of the Earth. Classification of Rock forming Minerals These are mainly of two types I Silicates Silicates again subdivided into 1. Ferromagnesian minerals i)  Olivine group of minerals ii) Pyroxene group of minerals iii) Amphibole group of minerals iv) Biotite 2. Non Ferromagnesian minerals i)  Feldspar group of minerals ii) Quartz group of minerals iii) Muscovite II Non Silicates Oxides Sulphides Sulphates Carbonates Physical Properties of Minerals Minerals are identified on the basis of following physical properties 1. Colour 2. Streak 3. Lustre 4. Fracture 5. Cleavage 6. Hardness 7. Specific Gravity 8. Form and structure  1. Colour The colour of a mineral depends on the absorption of some and reflectance of other of the coloured rays which constitute the white light. 2. Streak Streak of a mineral is the colo
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Sources of Energy - Primary and Secondary

Primary Energy The source of energy which does not require any transformation before the use is called primary energy. They are directly used as they available in nature. E.g. sun, river water, mountain lakes, wind, coal, crude oil, natural gas, wood, uranium, geothermal heat etc.  Secondary Energy The source which requires transformation before the use is called secondary energy. E.g. Petrol, diesel, kerosene, charcoal, electricity etc. The petrol, diesel and kerosene are derived from the petroleum (crude oil), charcoal derived from the wood, electricity derived from the water, wind, coal and also from the sun.

Dip and Strike

Dip The angle of inclination of a bed with respect to horizontal plane is called amount of dip measured at right angle to strike. The direction along which inclination of a bed occurs is the direction of dip. It has amount (magnitude) as well as direction so it is a vector quantity.  The amount of dip varies from 0° to 90° . Types of dip i)  True dip When the dip is measured along the right angle to the strike it is called true dip. It has always maximum amount of dip between 0° to 90°. ii) Apparent dip Along any direction other than true dip is the apparent dip. It is always less than true dip. Strike It is the direction of the line of intersection between the bedding plane and the horizontal plane. It has only direction so it is scalar quantity.  It is horizontal line on the bedding plane. It has always right angle relationship with the direction of true dip.

Classification of Mineral deposits

An ore deposit is an volume of rock enriched in one or more minerals of economic importance. Classification of ore deposits on the basis of genesis and mode of occurrences are mainly - 1. Magmatic ore deposits 2. Hydrothermal ore deposits 3. Sedimentary ore deposits 4. Supergene sulphide enrichment 5. Metamorphic ore deposits 1. Magmatic ore deposits These are generated through the process of magmatic intrusions. The economic minerals accumulate to form magmatic ore deposits. It is further subdivided into - i) Magmatic segregation  Fractional crystallization of cooling magic magma leading to development of oxides and silicates. Segregation is a general term refering to any process by which one or more minerals become locally concentrated during cooling and crystallization of magma. Eg. Pt, Fe, Ni, Cr, Ti, V deposits. ii) Pegmatitic deposits These deposits generally occur in association with granites. Pegmatites are very large single crystals. Eg. Mica formed when magma migt