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EAS 100 > L2: Minerals > Flashcards

L2: Minerals Flashcards

1
Q

What is a mineral?

A
  • Naturally occurring, inorganic, solid element or compound with a definite chemical composition and a regular internal crystal structure
  • May consist of only one element or be compounds of many elements
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2
Q

What are the 5 points that define a mineral?

A
  1. Naturally occuring
  2. Inorganic
  3. Solid element/compound
  4. Definite chemical composition
  5. Regular internal crystal structure
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3
Q

In what 3 ways can a mineral form?

A
  1. Crystallization from magma (as magma cools, minerals begin to form)
  2. Crystal growth in the solid state (minerals can change after initial nucleation)
  3. Precipitation from solution (when a state of supersaturation is reached in an aqueous solution)
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4
Q

Cation

A

Excess positive charge

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5
Q

Anion

A

Excess negative charge

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6
Q

How can an atom be neutral?

A

If the # of protons = # of electrons

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7
Q

How do you form an ionic compound?

A

Combine cations and anions

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8
Q

Most minerals are _____ compounds.

A

ionic

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9
Q

What is a covalent bond?

A

Share electrons rather than donating or accepting them

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10
Q

Define polymorphs

A

Minerals with the same chemical composition but have different structures (ex. Diamond vs graphite)

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11
Q

What are the 2 types of minerals

A
  • Silicates

- Ferromagnesian

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12
Q

Describe silicates

A
  • Most abundant minerals in the continental crust

- Lighter colored rock

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13
Q

How are the minerals formed by silicates classified?

A
  1. The linking of the tetrahedral (i.e rings, chains, sheets, framework)
  2. Their composition
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14
Q

What minerals are abundant in the continental crust?

A
  • Silicates
    Feldspars (60%)
    Quartz (15%)
    All silicates make up 95% of minerals in the cruste
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15
Q

How does the basic building block work for silicates?

A
  • (SiO4)^4 anion or tetrahedron = basic building block
  • Can be present as isolated tetrahedra or can polymerize by sharing oxygen (“corners”) into pairs, rings, chains, sheets, or frameworks
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16
Q

Define ferromagnesian minerals?

A
  • A group of minerals where Fe and Mg serve as the cations that bind the silica tetrahedra together
  • The dark minerals in most rocks (black, brown, dark green)
17
Q

How do clay minerals form?

A

Form from the alteration of aluminum silicates in both felsic and mafic rocks

18
Q

What properties do most clay minerals have?

A
  1. Predominantly composed of silica and aluminum

2. Their size is < 2mm thus termed clay size fraction

19
Q

What classifies non-silicates?

A
  1. The chemical composition of the anion

2. The type of cation

20
Q

List some common non-silicates?

A
  • Native elements – gold, silver, copper
  • Carbonates – calcites (CaCO3)
  • Sulfates – gypsum (CaSO4)
  • Sulfides – pyrite (FeS2)
  • Oxides – hematite (Fe2O3)
  • Hydroxides – ferric hydroxide (Fe[OH]3)
  • Halides – halite (NaCl)
21
Q

What is calcite?

A

One of earth’s most abundant crust minerals

22
Q

What are sulfides?

A
  • The chief minerals in many metal ores
  • Include compounds of the sulfide anion with metal cations
  • Pyrite is the most common
23
Q

What are hydroxides and oxides?

A
  • Compounds of minerals in which O2- or OH- is bonded to metal cations
  • They’re of great economic importance bc serves as a primary source of Fe, Al, Mn and T
  • First form from solution and within time convert into more stable oxide phases
24
Q

List and define the mineral properties.

A

Notes

25
Q

List and define the characteristics of luster.

A

Notes

26
Q

Rocks are _______ _______ aggregates of __________.

A
  • Naturally occurring

- Minerals

27
Q

Is color a reliable indicator of minerals? Explain why or why not.

A
  • No!
  • Color varies from specimen to specimen due to the presence of small amounts of chemical impurities that have nothing to do with the minerals basic composition
  • Ex. quartz has many colors – clear, rose, smoky, amethyst

EAS 100 (17 decks)

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