Mineralogy studies the different aspects of minerals.
Mineralogy is a scientific specialization that focuses on the analysis of minerals . A mineral, meanwhile, is an inorganic substance that can be found inside the Earth 's crust or on the surface of the planet.
Chemical and physical properties
Considered an area of geology , mineralogy is dedicated to the study of the chemical and physical properties of minerals. It is important to keep in mind that these solids are used by humans for the development of numerous industrial activities thanks to their components.
Depending on its specific object of study and its application, mineralogy can be divided into several branches . Thus one can speak of general mineralogy , economic mineralogy , optical mineralogy , descriptive mineralogy , etc.
Aspects of interest
In its broadest sense, mineralogy investigates the structure and general characteristics of minerals, allowing their classification . It also considers how these substances are formed, what are the appropriate techniques for their exploitation and how they can be used.
Another section of interest for mineralogy are the historical, cultural and social events linked to mineral deposits. Numerous towns have subsisted for a long time thanks to activities related to minerals.
An expert in mineralogy studies the hardness , brightness , color and weight of minerals, among other aspects. Hardness, for example, is measured according to the so-called Mohs scale . With the contributions of these specialists, you can know if a mineral will break when applying a certain stress or determine its resistance to scratches, to mention two possibilities.
Branches
Mineralogy, as we mentioned above, has several branches, points of view from which it is possible to study minerals. Below we briefly define some of these branches:
* general : focuses on the properties and structure of minerals;
*determinative : to determine the different species, take advantage of the structural and physicochemical properties;
* crystallography : focuses on crystalline properties, in particular its internal structure by means of X-ray diffraction. In its classic form, the observation of the apparent geometry of the crystals is added;
* physics This branch of mineralogy usually separates optical properties from fusibility and hardness, among other physical properties;
* optics through the petrographic microscope, among other tools, interested in optical properties;
* Chemistry The main objective of this point of view is precision when identifying minerals;
* mineralogenesis : how minerals are formed, how deposits appear and how they can be exploited;
* descriptive : a study that aims at systematic classification according to its composition and structure;
* economic : considers the mineral as a component of the economy and industry;
* topographic : analyzes the deposits of a particular part of the world with the aim of describing its mineral species and the events associated with them, both in the field of history and culture.
Mineralogy is very old, and began with a purely practical approach.
Origins
Human beings have been interested in minerals for a long time, although in the past their approach sought a purely practical use of them. It is known that flint was one of the first to be used, long before silver, gold and native copper. At first it took them from deposits on the surface, since it did not have the means to exploit the underground ones.
Over the decades and centuries, scientific and technological knowledge gave rise to different types of experiments and applications. For example, practices emerged to enhance some of the properties of minerals, such as their hardness. On the other hand, mineralogy also served for the manufacture of ornaments .