Chapter 2 - Minerals: The Building Blocks of Rocks Flashcards
What is a mineral?
A naturally occurring, inorganic solid with an ordered internal structure and definite chemical composition.
What are the building blocks of minerals?
Elements.
What is the Mohs scale used for?
To measure the hardness of minerals.
What is cleavage in minerals?
The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding.
What are polymorphs?
Minerals with the same chemical composition but different physical structures (e.g., diamond and graphite).
Name two common ferromagnesian (dark) silicates.
Olivine and pyroxene.
Name two common non-ferromagnesian (light) silicates.
Quartz and feldspar.
How do minerals with covalent and ionic bonds differ in their physical properties, such as hardness and cleavage?
Covalent bonds tend to create harder minerals (e.g., diamond), while minerals with ionic bonds often have cleavage due to weaker attraction between ions (e.g., halite).
Why is understanding mineral composition important in civil engineering, especially regarding construction materials?
Different minerals have varying durability, reactivity to weathering, and structural strength, making mineral composition key in selecting appropriate building materials.
