lecture 1 Flashcards
1
Q
what elements does the earths crust mainly contain?
A
silicon and oxygen
2
Q
what causes minerals?
A
natural geological processes (weathering, erosion, earthquakes
3
Q
what are the three main minerals found in earth’s crust?
A
feldspar 50%, quarts 12%, pyroxene 11%
4
Q
what is a crystal?
A
a solid whose atoms and arranged in an orderly pattern
5
Q
what are silicate minerals?
A
minerals that contain silicon and oxygen
6
Q
what is the structure of a silicate mineral called?
A
a silicate tetrahedron (SiO4)
7
Q
what is a mafic silicate mineral?
A
when it contains magnesium and ferric, is it heavier and darker in colour
8
Q
what is a felsic silicate mineral?
A
when it contains feldspar and silica, is lighter in colour and in mass
