THE MINERALS IN OUR

DAILY LIVES By: Villapando, Kurt

Russel U.

OBJECTIVE: To distinguish the importance

of rocks and minerals in our daily lives. Minerals/rocks to be discussed: Quartz

Sandstone

Talc

Marble

Limestone

QUARTZ

MINERAL-IGNEOUS ROCK CHEMICAL FORMULA: SIO₂

QUARTZ? Quartz is a hard crystalline mineral that consists of silica or silicon dioxide. It mostly occurs in colorless and transparent or even colored hexagonal crystals or in crystalline masses. Quartz is one of the most abundant mineral on the earth and is considered to be the fourth strongest material on earth. Luster: Vitreous Streak: White Hardness: 7 Crystal system: Hexagonal

Fracture: Conchoidal Tenacity: Brittle Type of rock: Igneous, Sedimentary, Metamorphic

WHAT IS ITS USE? Quartz can be used in many different ways. It is used for jewelries and gemstones, glass making, abrasives, sharpening tools etc.

EXAMPLE OF USE:

WHAT IS TALC? Talc, or talcum, is a clay mineral which is composed of hydrated magnesium silicate it mostly appears in the color of whitish grey to green. It has a chemical formula of Mg₃Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂. Talc can be found in veins, in foliated masses, and in certain rocks

WHAT IS TALC USED

FOR?

TALC

(MINERAL-METAMORPHIC

ROCK)

Luster: Greasy, waxy, pearly Streak: White Hardness: 1 Crystal system: Monoclinic Fracture: Uneven Tenacity: Sectile Type of rock: Metamorphic

Talc is mostly used as a thickening agent and lubricant. In powdered form, it is mostly combined with corn starch and is used as baby powder. It can be found in paints, ceramic, and roofing material.

SANDSTONE (SEDIMENTARY ROCK)

WHAT IS SANDSTONE USED

FOR?

WHAT IS SANDSTONE? Sandstone, a clastic sedimentary rock which is mainly composed of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. They comprise about 20-25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar which are both silicate due to the fact that they are the most resistant minerals to weathering processes at the Earth's surface. They may appear in any color due to the impurities but the common color of these are tan, yellow, brown etc..

WHERE CAN IT BE FOUND? Sedimentary basins throughout the world. In countries such as the Unites States, South Africa, Germany, and Australia.

Sandstone is used for many things such as liners for steel furnaces, construction or as building stone, abrasive, computer chips, Tv screens, in making glass, fiber glass, and paint.

MARBLE (METAMORPHIC ROCK)

Marble is a metemorphic rock that is composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals especially calcite or dolomite. Typically, marble is not foliated or layered, however, in geology, the term marble refers to metemorphosed limestone. It is mostly used for making sculptures and as a bulding material. Marble:

CAN BE FOUND IN: It can be basically found all over the world. However, these marbles are prevalent in some places like Spain, India, Italy, and China.

Example of use:

LIMESTONE (SEDIMENTARY ROCK)

What is a Limestone? Limestone (calcium carbonate CaCO3), is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock in which it is the main source of the material lime. Limestones are mostly composed of calcite and aragonite which are different crystal forms of CaCO3. With these two minerals, they are formed when these minerals precipitate out of water that contains dissolved calcium. The color of the limestone mostly occurs in grey but in some cases, it can appear as white, yellow or brown. They often contain fossils that provides information for the scientists about ancient environment and on the evolution of life.

Limestones are mostly used as a chemical feedstock for the production of cement, as an aggregate for the base of roads, as a white pigment or filler for toothpaste or paint, and even a popular decoration for rock gardens.

Summing it all up, these rocks and minerals play an important role in our life. They improve the life of people and even give colors or ambiance to the surroundings, we can see these rocks and minerals even inside or outside our homes. These rocks and minerals contribute to the progression of the world, to innovations and many new things. Minerals and rocks are one of the most beautiful things existing in this Earth. Let us take responsibility and care for our surroundings, they are the ones improving the quality of our life and the ones giving life to the whole world.

Grade 11- St. John XXIII