This minerals handbook should not be considered a complete glossary. It is intended to answer questions which
may arise from x-ray diffraction results of samples submitted for analysis.
An explanation of column headings:
Mineral Name -The proper name given to a crystalline substance.
Chemical Name (Common Name) -The general name of a substance based on the chemical
composition, or a widely used common name.
Formula -The chemical formula showing the chemical elements and their number comprising a molecule
of the substance. Substitution of aluminum (AI) in alumino-silicates with Fe, Mg, Ca, or other cations is
common.
Source -While all minerals can be found in nature, the source given is the most likely origin of our samples.
HCI Solubility- This is the expected solubility in general terms in normally used HCI concentrations
and temperatures. This can vary greatly due to these and other factors such as contact time,
wettability, purity, particle size, etc. The terms are:
insol.
sl. sol.
m. sol.
v. sol.
-
not soluble
slightly soluble
moderately soluble
very soluble
Other Names or Forms of Common Minerals
Quartz
Calcite
Gypsum
Kaolinite
Feldspar
Smectite
- sand, chert, flint, silica, agate, onyx, jasper, silica flour
- chalk, limestone, icelandspar, marble, travertine,
- selenite, alabaster, satin spar
- dickite, nacrite, kaolin
- plagioclase, orthoclase, microcline, K-spar
- bentonite, gel, Na-smectite, hectorite
2
Mineral Name
(Common Name)
Chemical Name
Formula
Source
HCl
Solubility
Acmite
sodium ferric
silicate
NaFeSi2O2
formation
scale
sl. sol.
Actinolite
iron, magnesium
calcium silicate
Ca2(Mg,Fe)5 Si8O22(OH)2
asbestos
insol.
Akaganeite
iron oxide
hydroxide
β-FeOOH
scale
(rust)
v. sol.
Albite
sodium
Feldspar
potassium aluminum
hydroxide sulfate
NaAISi3O8
formation
insol.
KAl3OH6(SO4)2
formation
insol.
Alunogen
aluminum
sulfate hydrate
AI2(SO4)3 • 16H2O
scale
formation
v. sol.
Analcime
sodium
aluminum silicate
NaAISi2O6 • H2O
formation
sl. sol.
Andalusite
aluminum silicate
AI2SiO5
formation
insol.
Anatase
titanium dioxide
TiO2
formation
v. sol.
Anglesite
lead sulfate
PbSO4
scale
sol.
Anhydrite
calcium sulfate
CaSO4
scale
formation
sl. sol.
Ankerite
(iron-rich dolomite)
calcium iron
magnesium carbonate
Ca(Fe,Mg)(CO3)2
scale
formation
v. sol.
Anorthite
calcium feldspar
CaAI2Si2O8
formation
insol.
Aragonite
calcium carbonate
CaCO3
scale
formation
v. sol.
Arcanite
potassium sulfate
K2SO4
formation
v. sol.
Attapulgite
(palygorskite)
magnesium
aluminum silicate
(MgAI)2Si4O10 • OH • 4H2O
mud and
cement additive
insol.
Barite
barium sulfate
BaSO4
scale,
formation,
mud additive
insol.
Bassanite
(plaster of Paris)
calcium sulfate
hemihydrate
CaSO4 • 1/2H2O
cement additive
sl. sol.
Biotite
(black mica)
potassium
aluminum silicate
K(Mg,Fe)3 (AISi3O10)(OH)2
formation
insol.
Boehmite
aluminum
oxide hydroxide
AIOOH
scale formation
insol.
Brucite
magnesium
hydroxide
Mg(OH)2
scale formation
v. sol.
Bunsenite
Burkeite
nickel oxide
sodium carbonate
sulfate
NiO
Na6CO3(SO4)2
scale
scale formation
sl. sol.
v. sol.
Alunite
3
Mineral Name
(Common Name)
Chemical Name
Formula
Source
HCl
Solubility
Calciochondrodite
calcium silicate
hydroxide
Ca5(SiO4)2(OH)2
cement
sl. sol.
Calcite
calcium carbonate
CaCO3
formation scale,
cement
v. sol.
Carborundum
Celestite
silicon carbide
strontium sulfate
SiC
SrSO4
abrasive
scale
insol.
insol.
Chabazite
calcium aluminum
silicate
CaAI2Si4O12 • 16H2O
zeolite
formation
insol.
Chalcocite
Chamosite
copper sulfide
iron, magnesiumaluminum
silicate
Cu2S
(Mg,Fe)3Fe3(AlSi3)O10(OH)8
scale
formation
insol.
sl. sol.
Chlorite
iron, magnesium
aluminum silicate
(Mg,Fe)3AI2Si4 O10(OH)8
formation
insol.
Chromite
iron chromite
FeCr2O4
scale
sl. sol.
Corrensite
chlorite-smectite
clay
varies
formation
sl. sol.
Corundum
aluminum oxide
α•AI2O3
high strength
proppant
insol.
Cristobalite
silicon dioxide
SiO2
high temp scale
formation
insol.
Chrysotile
(asbestos)
magnesium silicate
hydroxide
Mg6(Si4O10)(OH)8
asbestos
insol.
Cuprite
copper oxide
Cu2O
scale
v. sol.
Cuprospinel
iron copper oxide
Fe2CuO4
scale
v. sol.
Dawsonite
sodium aluminum
carbonate hydroxide
NaAICO3(OH)2
formation
v. sol.
Diopside
calcium magnesium
silicate
CaMgSi2O6
formation
insol.
Dolomite
calcium magnesium
carbonate
CaMg(CO3)2
formation,
scale
v. sol.
Enstatite
Ettringite
magnesium silicate
calcium aluminum
sulfate hydroxide
hydrate
Mg2(Si2O6)
Ca6AI2 (SO4)3 (OH)12 • 24H2O
scale
hydrated
cement product
insol.
m. sol.
Epsomite
(epsom salts)
magnesium sulfate
MgSO4 • 7H2O
scale
v. sol.
Fayalite
iron silicate
Fe2SiO4
formation
sl. sol.
Feldspar
group name for
aluminosilicates
(NaK, Ca) AI2Si2O8
formation
insol.
Fluorapatite
calcium fluoro
phosphate
Ca5(PO4)3F
scale,
formation
v. sol.
Fluorite
calcium fluoride
CaF2
scale,
formation
sl. sol.
Franklinite
Gahnite
zinc ferrate
zinc aluminate
ZnFe2O4
ZnAl2O4
scale
scale
m. sol.
insol.
Galena
lead sulfide
PbS
formation,
scale
v. sol.
4
Mineral Name
(Common Name)
Chemical Name
Formula
Source
HCl
Solubility
Glauconite
potassium
magnesium iron
aluminum silicate
K2 (MgFe)2AI6 (Si4O10)3(OH)12
formation,
green pellets
in sandstone
sl. sol.
Gibbsite
aluminum hydroxide
AI(OH)3
component
of bauxite
formation
v. sol.
Goethite
iron oxide
α FeO(OH)
scale
formation
v. sol.
Graphite
carbon
C
industrial
sources
formation
insol.
Greigite
iron sulfide
Fe3S4
scale
formation
v. sol.
Grossularite
(garnet)
calcium aluminum
silicate
Ca3AI2(SiO4)3
component of
set cement
formation
sl. sol.
Gypsum
(selenite)
calcium sulfate
di-hydrate
CaSO4 • 2H2O
component of
cement, scale
formation
m. sol.
Halite
(salt)sodium chloride
NaCI
scaleformation
m. sol.
Halloysite
aluminum silicate
Al4(Si4O10)(OH)8
formation
insol.
Hausmannite
manganese oxide
Mn3O4
scale
formation
v. sol.
Hectorite
magnesium
lithium silicate
(MgLi)6Si8O20(OH)4
formation
sl. sol.
Hematite
iron oxide
Fe2O3
scale
formation
v. sol.
Herschelite
sodium aluminum
silicate hydrate
Na4Al4Si3O14 • 12H2O
formation
insol.
Heulandite
calcium aluminum
silicate hydrate
CaAl2Si6O16 • 5H2O
formation
sl. sol.
Hornblende
complex silicate
Ca(Na,K)2 (Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)3
Si6O22(O,OH)2
formation
insol.
Hydrogrossularite
calcium aluminum
silica hydrate
Ca3Al2Si2O8(OH4)
cement
hydration
product
m. sol.
Hydrophilite
calcium chloride
CaCl2
chemical
additive
m. sol.
Hydrotalcite
magnesium aluminum
carbonate
hydroxide hydrate
Mg6Al2CO3 (OH)16 • 4H2O
scale
v. sol.
Hydroxylapatite
calcium phosphate
hydroxide
Ca5(PO4)3OH
scale
formation
v. sol.
Hypersthene
magnesium
iron silicate
(MgFe)2(Si2O6)
scale
formation
sl. sol.
Illite
potassium aluminum
silicate hydroxide
KAI3Si3O10(0H)2
formation
insol.
Ilmenite
iron titanium
oxide
FeTiO2
cement additive
insol.
5
Mineral Name
(Common Name)
Chemical Name
Formula
Source
HCl
Solubility
Jadeite
sodium aluminum
silicate
NaAI(Si2O6)
formation
insol.
Kaolinite
aluminum silicate
hydroxide
AI2Si2O5(OH)4
additive
formation
insol.
Kyanite
aluminum silicate
AI2SiO5
formation
insol.
Labradorite
calcium aluminum
silicate
CaAI2Si2O8
formation
insol.
Lepidocrocite
Lime
iron oxide
calcium oxide
ƴ-FeO(OH)
CaO
scale (rust)
cement
component
v. sol.
v. sol.
Limonite
general term for
hydrated iron
oxides
FeO(OH) • n H2O
scale
formation
v. sol.
Litharge
Makinawite
Maghemite
lead oxide
iron sulfide
iron oxide
PbO
Fe9S8
δ-Fe2O3
scale
scale
scale
m. sol.
v. sol.
v. sol.
Magnesite
Magnetite
magnesium carbonate
iron oxide
MgCO3
Fe3O4
scale
scale
v. sol.
v. sol.
Malachite
copper
carbonate hydrate
Cu2CO3(OH)2
scale
v. sol.
Manganite
manganese
oxide hydroxide
MnO(OH)
scale
v. sol.
Marcasite
iron sulfide
FeS2
formation
scale
insol.
Massicot
Microcline
Millerite
Mixed Layer Clay
lead oxide
potassium feldspar
nickel sulfide
(clay)
aluminum silicate
PbO
KAlSi3O8
NiS
varies
formation
formation
scale
formation
insol.
sl. sol.
insol.
insol.
Montmorillonite
(smectite)
(Na)(AI2Mg)2
Si2O10(OH)2 • nH2O
formation
insol.
Mordenite
(zeolite)
(Ca,Na2 ,K2)AI2Si10O24 • 7H2O
hydrated cement
insol.
Mullite
aluminum silicate
Al6Si2O13
ceramic,
proppant
insol.
Muscovite
(mica)
potassium
aluminum silicate
KAl3Si3O10(OH)2
fluid loss
additive
formation
insol.
Nahcolite
sodium bicarbonate
NaHCO3
chemical
additive
v. sol.
Oligoclase
Na,Ca
feldspar
mNaAlSi3O8 • nCaAl2Si2O8
formation
insol.
Orthoclase
potassium
feldspar
KAlSi3O8
formation
insol.
Palygorskite
(attapulgite)
magnesium
aluminum silicate
(MgAl)2Si4O10
(OH) 4H2O
mud and
cement additive
insol.
Periclase
magnesium oxide
MgO
scale cement
component
sol.
Plagioclase
group name for
feldspars
(Na,Ca)AlSi3O8
formation
insol.
6
Mineral Name
(Common Name)
Chemical Name
nickel sulfide
Formula
Source
Ni3S4
scale
HCl
Solubility
insol.
Polyhalite
potassium magnesium
calcium sulfate
K2MgCa2(SO4)2 • 2H2O
formation
insol.
Portlandite
calcium hydroxide
Ca(OH)2
hydrated
cement
v. sol.
Prehnite
Hydrous
calcium aluminum
silicate
Ca2Al2Si3O10(OH)2
scale
insol.
Pyrite
iron sulfide
FeS2
scale
formation
insol.
Pyrophyllite
aluminum silicate
hydroxide
Al2Si4O10(OH)2
formation
insol.
Pyrrhotite
Quartz
iron sulfide
(sand)
silica
Fe7S8
SiO2
m. sol.
insol.
Realgar
Rhodochrosite
Rutile
arsenic sulfide
manganese carbonate
titanium dioxide
AsS
MnCO3
TiO2
scale
most common
mineral additivefrac. Sand
scale
scale
scale
Scawtite
calcium silicate
carbonate
Ca7Si6O18(CO3) • 2H2O
scale
sl. sol.
Sepiolite
Serpentine
magnesium silicate
magnesium silicate
hydroxide
Mg2Si3O8 • 2H2O
(Mg)3Si2O5(OH)4
mud additive
scale
insol.
insol.
Siderite
iron carbonate
FeCO3
scale
formation
v. sol.
Smectite
group name water
swelling clays
e.g. bentonite
Al2Si4O10(OH)2
additives
formation
sl. sol.
Smithsonite
zinc carbonate
ZnCO3
scale
v. sol.
Sodalite
sodium aluminum
silicate chloride
Na4AI3Si3O12CI
scale
insol.
Sphalerite
Sulfur
Sylvite
zinc sulfide
sulfur
potassium chloride
ZnS
S
KCI
scale
scale
additive
v. sol.
insol.
m. sol.
(dil)
Syngenite
potassium
calcium sulfate
K2Ca(S04)2 • H2O
cement
component
v. sol.
Tachydrite
calcium magnesium
chloride hydrate
CaMg2CI6 • 12H2O
scale
v. sol
Talc
(steatite)
magnesium silicate
MgSi4O10(OH)2
scale
formation
insol.
Temorite
Thermonatrite
copper oxide
sodium carbonate
hydrate
CuO
Na2CO3 • H2O
scale
scale
v. sol.
v. sol.
Tobermorite
calcium silicate
hydrate
Ca5Si6O17 • 5H2O
hydrated
cement
insol.
Trevorite
Troilite
Trona
nickel spinel
iron sulfide
sodium
sesqui-carbonate
NiFe2O4
FeS
Na3H(CO3)2 • 2H2O
scale
scale
scale
sl. sol.
v. sol.
v. sol.
Polydymite
insol.
v. sol.
insol.
7
Mineral Name
Formula
Source
Ulvospinel
(Common Name)
Chemical Name
titanium spinel
Fe2TiO4
scale
HCl
Solubility
insol.
Vaterite
Vivianite
calcium carbonate
iron phosphate
CaCO3
Fe3(PO4)2 • 8H2O
scale
scale
v. sol.
v. sol.
Wairakite
calcium aluminum
silicate
CaAl2Si4O12 • 2H2O
hydrated
cement,
zeolite
insol.
Whitlockite
calcium
magnesium phosphate
(Ca,Mg)3(PO4)2
scale
v. sol.
Willemite
Wollastonite
zinc silicate
alpha calcium
silicate
Zn2SiO4
α-CaSiO3
scale
cement
sl. sol.
m. sol.
Wurtzite
Wustite
Xonotlite
zinc sulfide
iron oxide
calcium silicate
ZnS
FeO
Ca6Si6O17(OH)2
scale
scale
hydrated
cement
v. sol.
v. sol.
insol.
Zircon
zirconium silicate
ZrSiO4
formation
insol.
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