Chapter 3: Minerals

Question 1

What are minerals?

Answer 1

Naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid with:
A definite chemical composition
Characteristic physical property

Question 2

What is van der Waals bonds and why is it important

Answer 2

Extremely weak without available electrons to form attraction.

Makes cleavage and hardness

Question 3

Most minerals are composed of two or more minerals. What is an example?

Answer 3

Quartz (SiO2)

Question 4

What are the different kinds of luster?

Answer 4

Metallic
Non metallic:
Vitreous: glass, bright 
Resinous: resin, Amber 
Pearly: whitish, irescence, pearl
Silky: sheen like that of fiberous material, silk
Dull: dull
Earthy: earth, surface of unglazed pottery

Question 5

What are rock forming minerals?

Answer 5

Common, mostly silicate felspar minerals - 60% of the crust

Question 6

What are accessory minerals?

Answer 6

Present in minor quantities

Question 7

How do minerals form?

Answer 7

Cooling of magma crystallizes

Hot water solutions

Dissolves in sea water

Chemical process can alter other minerals

Question 8

What are silicate Minerals?

Answer 8

Composed of silica

Ferromagnesian silicates: contain Fe and Mg. Usually dark

Nonferromagnesian silicates: lack Fe and Mg. Usually light

Question 9

What are carbonate minerals?

Answer 9

All carbonate minerals have carbonate

Mostly found in limestone or dolostone

Derived from shells and hard parts of marine organisms or are precipitated from seawater as evaporates

Question 10

What are the minerals in the other mineral group?

Answer 10

Oxides
Hydroxides 
Native elements 
Phosphates 
Sulfates 
Halides