Minerals of Utah Properties of Minerals n Occur

Minerals of Utah

Properties of Minerals n Occur naturally – Formed inside the Earth with no input from humans Pyrite or “fools gold” is easily identified by it’s crystalline shape and metallic luster

Properties of Minerals n Minerals are inorganic – They are not made by living processes Salt forming on the shores of the Great Salt Lake

Properties of Minerals n Minerals are elements or compounds with definite chemical composition Sulfur (chemical formula S) is a result of hot spring, volcanoes and thermal vents. Have you ever been to Yellowstone?

Properties of Minerals n Minerals are crystalline solids Qyartz The hexagonal (stop sign shape) appearance has lead many to believe it has special healing powers. In many cultures people wear it as jewelry to keep themselves healthy.

n Hardness Identification In 1812, Mohs arranged ten minerals in order of . hardness, so each will scratch those lower in the scale Ratin g Type mineral Everyday equivalent 1 Talc Baby powder 2 Gypsum fingernail 3 Calcite bronze coin 4 Fluorite iron nail 5 Apatite glass 6 Feldspar penknife blade 7 Quartz steel knife 8 Topaz sandpaper 9 Corundum 10 Diamond

Identification Luster n The luster of a mineral is the way its surface reflects light. Most terms used to describe luster are self-explanatory: n

Identification n Specific Gravity, also known as SG, is a measurement that determines the density of minerals. Two minerals may be the same size, but their weight may be very different Minerals density Specific gravity sulfur, graphite light 1 -2 gypsum, quartz medium 2 -3 fluorite, beryl medium heavy 3 -4 coru most metal oxides ndum, heavy 4 -6 native gold, platinum Heaviest 19 What is the specific gravity of something lighter than water?

Identification Streak: The color of the powder left behind on the streak plate is the mineral's streak. n

Identification n Cleavage describes how a crystal breaks when subject to stress on a particular plane.

Coal n n n Mineral: Coal Composition: C Where: Eastern Central Utah Use: Power plant generation Interesting notes: Most geologists consider coal not to be a mineral. Why is that?

Gypsum n n n Mineral: Gypsum Composition: Ca. SO 4 - 2 H 2 O Where: Emery, Sevier, Juab Counties Use: Plaster of paris, cement, sheetrock Interesting notes:

Hematite n n n Mineral: Hematite Composition: Fe 2 O 3 Where: Iron County Use: Steal Interesting notes: All of the hematite operations have stopped now because of the import of cheaper steal from Asian countries.

Uranium n n n Mineral: Urannnitite Composition UO 2 Where: Emery, Wayne, Grand counties Use: fuel for atomic reactors and nuclear bonds Interesting notes: Although once a lucrative industry in Utah, now production has ceased

Potash Mineral: KP n Where: Moab- Grand county n Use: agriculture fertilizer n Interesting notes: Water is pumped underground to dissolve the potash and Salts. When the water is surfaced, it is evaporated leaving salt and potash behind n

Copper Mineral: Chalcopyrite Malachite Composition: Cu. Fe. S 2 n Where: Kennecott copper mine and in Uranium Mines in the San Rafael n Use: wire, coins, electronics n Interesting notes: Although the principle element is Copper, Kennecott is a large supplier of gold, silver, lead and other metals n

Gold Mineral Composition: Au Where: Park City, Kennecott n Use: Jewelry, electronics, investments n n Interesting notes: The mineral Gold is almost always mixed with a small amount of silver, and sometimes contains traces of copper and iron. A Gold nugget is usually 70 - 90 percent gold, and the remainder mostly silver.

Silver n n n Mineral: Silver Composition: Ag Where: Park City Use: Photography, Jewelry Interesting notes: Silver is no longer used for coins because the value has increased over the years.

salt n n n Mineral: halite Composition: Na. Cl Where: Great Salt Lake Use: food, curing, ice removal Interesting notes: Although salt is desired for a number of things, it is also considered a pollutant in the Colorado River Water system of Eastern Central Utah

n n n Mineral Composition Where Use Interesting notes