els midterm Flashcards
are building blocks of rocks.
Minerals
are the most common
materials we can see in our surrounding.
Rocks
Naturally occurring solids
Non-living
Composed of one or more minerals
Rocks
is formed by the hardening and crystallization of
molten material that originates from deep within the earth. The rock material is called
magma.
Igneous Rocks
is divided into 2 groups,-extrusive and intrusive.
An igneous rock
form when magma flows onto the surface of the earth or floor of the ocean through deep
cracks or fissures and at volcanic vents. The magma then cools and hardens.
Extrusive rocks
results when magma solidifies beneath the earth’s surface.
An intrusive
rock
have finer
grained texture than intrusive rocks.
Extrusive rocks
vary from thin sheets to huge,
irregular masses.
Intrusive rocks
are obsidian, pumice and peridotite.
Examples of igneous rocks
develop from sediments. Sediments are
tiny grains of dirt, sand, mud and clay weathered or worn off rocks. These are then
washed into streams, rivers, lakes and oceans and they settle in the bottom of these
bodies of water. Minerals in the water and very tiny sea animals become mixed with the
dirt and sand to form layers of sediment. Every day more sediments are added. After
thousands and millions of years deep accumulations of sediment are produced. The
weight and pressure from the upper layers turn the sediment in the bottom into
sedimentary rocks.
Sedimentary Rocks – Sedimentary rocks
are limestone, conglomerate, shale
and sandstone. The Island of Cebu is famous for its limestone and dolomite deposits.
Examples of sedimentary rocks
These rocks can come from igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks
or even from other metamorphic rocks.
Metamorphic Rocks –
How are these rocks formed? When a rock is
subjected to high temperature, high pressure and chemically active fluids, it becomes
unstable and begins to re-crystallize into different stable minerals. This causes change in
the composition of the rock as well as the rock type. The Island of Romblon is the famous
for its marble rocks. Mindoro Island has marble rocks too.
Metamorphic Rocks –
is a solid
inorganic compound, represented by a chemical formula. A rock is an aggregate of one or
more minerals. For example, coal is a sedimentary rock composed of carbon.
A mineral
describes the
orderly geometric spatial arrangement of atoms in the internal structure of a mineral.
Crystal structure
The external shape of a crystal or groups of crystals is observed as these crystals growin
open spaces. The form reflects the internal structure of crystals. This includes prismatic,
tabular, bladed, platy, reniform and equant. A mineral without crystal structure is
amorphous.
CRYSTAL HABIT
It is a measure of the resistance of a mineral (not specifically surface) to abrasion. Mohs
Scale of Hardness by Friedrich Mohs in 1812. this compares the resistance of a mineral
relative to the 10 reference minerals with known hardness by scratching them with common
objects of known hardness.
HARDNESS
Maybe a unique identifying property of certain minerals. But a lot of minerals share
similar or same colors and some exhibit a range of colors. Color varies because of the
impurities within the crystals structure of modified by weathering. Streak is the color of
mineral in powder form it is better diagnostic property compared to color.
COLOR AND STREAK
Quality and intensity of reflected light exhibited by the mineral
LUSTER / TRANSPARENCY
LUSTER / TRANSPARENCY types
Metallic, Non-metallic
— generally opaque and exhibit a resplendent shine similar to polished metal
Metallic
vitreous (glassy), adamantine (brilliant/ diamond-like), resinous, silky,
pearly, dull (earthy), greasy, etc.
Non-metallic —
It is the property of some minerals to break
along parallel repetitive planes of weakness to
form smooth, flat surfaces.
CLEAVAGE
Exogenic processes are external processes that occur at or near the surface of Earth.
Exogenic processes are part of the rock cycle. They are responsible for transforming rocks
into sediments. Exogenic processes include degradation processes (deposition).
WEATHERING
The physical breakdown and/ or chemical alteration of rocks at or near Earth’s surface
is referred to as ——– It is a degradation process and does not involve movement
movement of materials.
weathering.
There are two types of weathering:
Mechanical and Chemical
Weathering.
- Frost Wedging -
- Insolation -
- Exfoliation -
Juniper Pine and Rock Weathering - EPOD - a service of USRA
- Plant Growth -
unloading
thermal expansion and contraction
salt crystal growth
hydration
MECHANICAL WEATHERING