Chapter 3 - Minerals Flashcards
What is a mineral?
1) Naturally occurring
2) Inorganic
3) Crystalline solid
4) Specific chemical compound.
Isotopes
The number of neutrons in a carbon atom may change and create an isotope. Carbon 12, 13, and 14 are carbon isotopes.
Ionic Bonding
Transfer of electrons. Form when shells are nearly empty or nearly full and creates a weak bond.
Covalent Bonding
Sharing of Electrons. Form when shells are half full and creates a strong bond.
What kind of bonding would make a diamond?
Covalent bonding
What determines how a mineral will form?
1) The available elements
2) Ionic substitution
3) Conditions of Cyrstalization
Polymorphs
Minerals that have the same composition but different crystal structure. Ex: diamonds and graphite.
How do minerals form?
Chemical reactions between elements and crystallization.
What is the most abundant type of mineral group in the earth’s crust?
Silicates.
What is crystallization?
The growth of a solid from a gas or liquid whose constituents come together in the proper chemical proportions and crystalline arrangement.
What conditions cause minerals to form?
1) Lower the temperature of a liquid below its freezing point.
2) Liquids evaporate from a solution forming a supersaturated solution and results in a precipitate.
3) When atoms and ions in a solid become mobile and rearrange themselves at high temperature.
Properties: Color
Least reliable as it depends on the presence of certain ions, such as iron, chromium, cobalt, etc
Properties: Luster
How the surface reflects light. Two main types of luster: metallic and non-metallic.
Properties: Streak
Color of a mineral in a powered state.
Properties: Cleavage vs Fracture
Cleavage: the tendency of a mineral to break along points of weakness.
Fracture: the mineral will break randomly.
Properties: Hardness
A mineral’s resistance to scratching and abrasion. Based upon Moh’s Hardness Scale.
Properties: Specific Gravity
Ratio of weight to an equal volume of water. Basically how heavy it feels relative to other minerals.
Properties: Crystal Habit
The characteristic shape a mineral grows in.
Silicates
Most abundant mineral group in the crust. Dominates all three rock types. Composed of silicon and Oxygen = silica
What are some of the other mineral group types?
Carbonates, oxides, sulfides, sulfates, and native elements.
What is asbestos?
It is a commercial definition for minerals that are flexible, chemically and thermally resistant, and can be woven.
What was asbestos used for?
Building products, like tile, insulation products, and such.
Exposure to some types of asbestos can cause what?
Mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer.
What type of mineral in the asbestos group is harmful?
Crocidolite. It forms sharp needle like fibers that can puncture lungs.
