Mineral Notes

Question 1

Why study minerals?

Answer 1

Minerals are important in our everyday lives.

Question 2

What is a mineral?

Answer 2

Crystalline
Naturally Occurring
Inorganic
Homogeneous
Solid Substance

Question 3

Crystalline:

Answer 3

Has regular geometric shape and has crystals

Question 4

Naturally Occuring

Answer 4

Not man made, created naturally

Question 5

Homogenous

Answer 5

Same throughout

Question 6

Solid Substance

Answer 6

Pure and made out of one solid thing

Question 7

Inorganic

Answer 7

Doesn’t contain carbon and hydrogen (needs both)

Question 8

What is a crystal?

Answer 8

A solid with a regular geometric shape resulting from internal arrangement of atoms, has 6 basic shapes

Question 9

Crystal Shapes

Answer 9

Cubic (halite)
Hexagonal (quartz)
Orthodontic
Monoclinic (calcite)
Tetragonal
Triclinic

Question 10

How do minerals form?

Answer 10

Cooling of magma (crystallization)

Heat and pressure (re-crystallization)

Evaporates or precipitates from seawater

Question 11

What determines the size of a crystal/mineral?

Answer 11

Cooling time

Question 12

Coarse or large crystals have a _____ cooling time

Answer 12

long

Question 13

Fine or small crystals have a _____ cooling time

Answer 13

short

Question 14

How We Identify Minerals:

Answer 14

We use observable and testable characteristics to identify minerals

Question 15

Easily Observable:

Answer 15

Color
Luster (way the mineral reflects light)
Crystal Shape

Question 16

Testable Characteristics:

Answer 16

Hardness (Moh's Scale)
Streak (color of mineral in powdered form)
Acid Test
Cleavage vs. Fracture
Specific Gravity
Fluorescence

Question 17

Color:

Answer 17

This is the least reliable property to use to identify a mineral

Question 18

Luster:

Answer 18

Metallic or non-metallic

Question 19

Streak:

Answer 19

Rub mineral along porcelain plare

Question 20

Hardness:

Answer 20

Moh’s scale:
Use tools to test each mineral by scratching it against the tool, if scratch the mineral can scratch the tool, then it is harder

Question 21

Finger Nail:

Answer 21

2.5

Question 22

Copper Coin:

Answer 22

3.5

Question 23

Glass:

Answer 23

5.5

Question 24

Knife and steel probe:

Answer 24

6.5

Question 25

Streak Plate:

Answer 25

7

Question 26

Diamond:

Answer 26

10

Question 27

Cleavage vs. Fracture

Answer 27

This is the way the mineral breaks

Question 28

Cleavage:

Answer 28

Breaks along a plate

Question 29

Fracture:

Answer 29

Shatters

Question 30

Acid Test:

Answer 30

Bubbles (releases carbon dioxide)

Question 31

Fluorescence:

Answer 31

Glows under a blue light

Question 32

Double Refraction:

Answer 32

See words or images twice when looking through the mineral

Question 33

Magnetic:

Answer 33

Will attract metals like a magnet