Characteristics of Tennessee's Mineral Resources
Minerals are identified by a variety of characteristics
|
Common Name
|
Scientific Name
|
Formula
|
Class of Mineral
|
Hardness
|
Specific Gravity
|
| Barite | Barium Sulfate |
BaSO4
|
Sulfate
|
3-3.5
|
4.3-4.6
|
| Chalcopyrite (copper) | Copper Iron Sulfide |
CuFeS2
|
Sulfide
|
3-5.4
|
4.1-4.3
|
| Chert - Calcedony | Silicon Dioxide |
SiO2
|
Silicate
|
7
|
2.6-2.64
|
| Fluorite | Calcium Fluoride |
CaF2
|
Halite
|
4
|
3.0-3.2
|
| Galena | Lead Sulfide |
PbS
|
Sulfide
|
2.5
|
7.4-7.6
|
| Gypsum | Hydrous Calcium Sulfate |
CaSO4*2H2O
|
Sulfate
|
1.5-2
|
2.3-2.4
|
| Ilmenite | Iron Titanium Oxide |
FeTiO3
|
Oxide
|
5.6
|
4.5-4.7
|
| Hematite | Iron Oxide |
Fe2O3
|
Oxide
|
5.6
|
4.9-5.3
|
| Limonite | Hydrous Iron Oxide |
FeO(OH)* nH2O
|
Oxide
|
4-5.5
|
2.7-4.3
|
| Magnetite | Iron Oxide |
Fe3O4
|
Oxide
|
5.5-6.5
|
4.9-5.2
|
| Pyrite | Iron Sulfide |
FeS2
|
Sulfide
|
6-6.5
|
4.9-5.2
|
| Phosphate |
|
|
|||
| Saltpeter | Potasium Nitrate |
KNO3
|
Carbonate2
|
|
|
| Sphalerite | Zinc Sulfide |
ZnS
|
Sulfide
|
3.5-4
|
3.9-4.1
|
1 Hydrous minerals have water incorporated into their crystaline structure. Why do you think that limonite hydrous iron oxide has a specific gravity so much lower than that of the other iron oxides.
2 Nitrates are classified with the carbonates because the nitrate group NO3 interacts like the carbonate group CO3, forming weak ionic bonds which create soluble minerals.