Mineral Properties Flashcards
Minerals have a definite?
Chemical Composition
A group of crystal structures that are categorized according to the axial system used to describe their “lattice”
Crystal System
The 6 different types of crystal systems
Isometric
Monoclinic
Hexagonal
Triclinic
Tetragonal
Orthorhombic
A set of minerals grouped according to their chemical composition
Mineral Groups
A set of minerals grouped by the anion (SiO4)^-4
Silicates
Island Silicates - give formula and example
Nesosilicates; 1:4 (SiO4)^-4; Olivine
Double Island Silicates - give formula and example
Sorosilicates; 2:7 (Si2O7)^-6; Lawsonite
Ring Silicates - give formula and example
Cyclosilicates; 1:3 (Si6O18)^-12; Beryl
Single Chain Silicates - give formula and example
Inosilicates; 1:3 (Si2O6)^-4; Aegerine
Double Chain Silicates - give formula and example
Inosilicates; 4:11 (Si4O11)^-6; Actinolite
Sheet Silicates - give formula and example
Phyllosilicates; 2:5 (Si2O5)^-2; Talc
Framework Silicates - give formula and example
Tectosilicates; 1:2 (SiO2); Quartz
The color of a mineral in powdered form
Streak
The resistance of a mineral to be scratched
Hardness
A relative hardness scale developed in 1824 that uses set of indenting tools or points composed of minerals and common objects.
Mohs Scale of Hardness
Who made the Mohs Scale of Hardness
Frederic Mohs
An absolute hardness scale of indentation hardness related to the ratio between the force and time to the size of the indentation to the mineral
Knoop Scale of Hardness
A diamond-tipped instrument used for testing the hardness of a material.
Indenter
Recite the Mohs Scale of Hardness
Talc
Gypsum
Calcite
Fluorite
Apatite
Orthoclase
Quartz
Topaz
Corundum
Diamond
Refers to the common or characteristic shape of a crystal or aggregate of crystals
Habit
Fine, slender, needle like crystals
Acicular
Exhibiting narrow bands of different colors as textures
Banded
Forming very thin threads which resemble hair
Capillary
Stout-column like individuals
Columnar
Forming long and thin little columns which resemble wire
Filiform
Cavity line with small crystals
Geode
Radiating individuals forming small, spherical or hemispherical
Globular
Aggregates of large or small grains
Granular
Compact crystalline aggregates with no regular forms
Massive
Somewhat elongated crystals with well-developed prism faces
Prismatic
Crystals somewhat flattened in one direction
Tabular
Rounded masses somewhat resembling bunches of grapes
Botryoidal
Plates approximately parallel about a common center
Concentric
Separate from a thicker stem into several slender ones, similar to branches which divides into smaller sheets.
Dendritic
Crystals groups radiating from a center
Divergent or Radiated
Surface covered with a layer of small crystals
Drusy
Groups of parallel slender thread-like strands; need not be easily separable
Fibrous
Splitting readily into exceedingly thin plates or sheets
Micaceous
Aggregate of small sphere the size of fish roe.
Oolitic
Small globular aggregates about the size of peas or in round concretionary grains
Pisolitic