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Geology 1330 > Matter and minerals > Flashcards

Matter and minerals Flashcards

1
Q

Mineral

A
  • Naturally occurring
  • Solid within temperature range normally found at Earth’s Surface
  • Orderly crystalline structure where atoms are arranged in an orderly, repetitive manner
  • Well-defined chemical composition
  • Generally inorganic, though some may contain carbon
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2
Q

Valence electrons

A

Electrons in the outermost shell.

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3
Q

Isotope

A

Atoms with differing proton and neutron counts.

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4
Q

Ion

A

Atom with differing proton and electron counts, causing an electrical charge.

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5
Q

Cation

A

Atom that with fewer electrons than protons and so has a positive charge.

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6
Q

Anion

A

Atom with more electrons than protons and so has a negative charge.

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7
Q

Compounds

A

Some combination of different elements

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8
Q

Elements form chemical bonds in order to?

A

Fill their outermost shells with electrons

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9
Q

Ionic bond

A

One element loses an electron and becomes positively charged. Another element gains an electron and becomes negatively charged. The oppositely charged ions are attracted and bond

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10
Q

Covalent bond

A 
electron orbits (shells) can overlap with those of adjacent elements and so electrons are shared.
e.g. Cl2 is the bond of two chlorine atoms sharing a single electron to fill their valence shell.
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11
Q

Metallic bond

A

Metallic atoms pack together as cations. Their electrons are mobile and move about freely to be shared among the cations. Occurs among a small number of minerals e.g. copper.

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12
Q

Diamond atomic structure

A

each carbon atom shares electrons with four adjacent carbon atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement.

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13
Q

Different minerals have different crystal forms due to differences in?

A

The internal arrangement of atoms.

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14
Q

What can we say about the faces and angles of a crystal?

A

Although some of the faces may grow larger than others, the angles between equivalent facer are constant for a given mineral.

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15
Q

Polymorphs

A

two minerals that have the same chemical composition but differ in crystal structure. e.g. graphite/diamond, calcite/aragonite

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16
Q

Silicates

A

Minerals comprised of silicon ions surround by four oxygen ions (SiO4)^-4. This is the basic building block is the Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron
General formula for silicates:
(SiO4)^-4 + cations.

17
Q

Pyroxene group

A

Two planes at right angles. Single chains of Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedrons. e.g. augite

18
Q

Amphibole group

A

Two planes at 60 and 120 degrees. Double chains of silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons. e.g. hornblende

19
Q

Micas are examples of?

A

Sheet silicates

20
Q

Most common minerals in Earth’s crust?

21
Q

Carbonates

A

Basic unit is the (CO3)^-2 complex. There are different carbonate minerals depending on which cation is attached to the carbonate complex. The two most important carbonates are calcite (CaCO3) and dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2)

22
Q

Oxides

A

Cations are bounded to oxygen: O^-2 + cations.
Two important oxides:
- Hematite (Fe2O3)
- Magnetite (Fe3O4)

23
Q

Sulfates

A 
Sulfur is present as the sulfate ion (SO4)^-2
(SO4)^-2 + cations
Two important sulfates:
- Anhydrite (CaSO4)
- Gypsum (CaSO4 * 2H20)
24
Q

Sulfides

A 
Many important ore deposits exist as sulfides:
S^-2 + cations
Two important sulfides:
- Pyrite (FeS2)
- Galena (PbS)
25
Q

Halides

A 
Generally form ionic bonds.
Some precipitate from salty water.
Important Halides:
- Halite (NaCl)
- Sylvite (KCl)
- Fluorite (CaF2)
26
Q

Native Element Minerals

A

Composed of only one element

e.g. graphite (C), diamond (C), copper (Au), gold (Au), sulfur (S)

27
Q

Streak

A

the color left behind when scratching a mineral on a tile of unglazed porcelain.

28
Q

Hardness

A

the measure of the ease with which the surface of a mineral can be scratched.

29
Q

Tenacity

A

describes a mineral’s toughness, or resistance to breaking or deforming

30
Q

Cleavage

A

tendency of a crystal to break along flat planar surfaces.

  • Covalent bonds are generally strong and have poor cleavage e.g. quartz
  • Ionic bonds are relatively weak and yield good cleavage e.g. halite and calcite
31
Q

Fracture

A

tendency of a mineral to break along irregular surfaces other than cleavage planes.

  • Conchoidal (smooth, curved surfaces)
  • Fibrous (similar to splitting wood)
  • Irregular
32
Q

Specific Gravity

A

a measure of the mass of a mineral divided by the mass of an equal volume of water.
Heavier minerals have higher specific gravity.

33
Q

Luster

A

the way a mineral reflects light
- Metallic (strong reflections by opaque minerals)
- Vitreous (reflects like glass)
- Dull (earthy)
- Greasy (appearance of being coated with oil)
Adamantine (brilliant luster of diamond)

34
Q

Form/Habit

A

the shape in which a crystal grows

  • Bladed
  • Prismatic
  • Banded
  • Botryoidal

Geology 1330 (3 decks)

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