Mineralogy Flashcards
What is a Mineral?
Naturally Occurring
Homogenous Solid
Definite Chemical Composition
Inorganic
Ordered atomic arrangement
pertaining or relating to compound
that contains no carbon
Inorganic
means crystalline, with three-dimensional periodic
arrays of precise geometric arrangement of atoms.
Ordered atomic arrangement
products or those produced in the
laboratory
Synthetic Mineral
consists of a single solid substance that cannot
be physically subdivided into simpler chemical
compounds
Homogenous solid
Homogenous Solid excludes?
gases and liquid
lacks consistent atomic order
Noncrystalline / Amorphous
A homogenous solid possessing long-range, three dimensional internal order
Crystal
an aggregate of minerals; can be composed of one kind of mineral (monomineralic) or different kinds on minerals (polymineralic)
Rock
Minerals from which one or more metals can be extracted at a profit
Ore Minerals
Minerals which are themselves used for one or more industrials purposes.
Industrial Minerals
Minerals which have ornamental Value
Gems
Qualities of a Gem
Beauty
Durability
Rarity
Fashionability
Portability
Mineral -like materials that lacks a long range crystalline structure
Mineraloid
example of Mineraloid
Amorphous minerals:
Opal, Obsidian, Volcanic glass, Impactites, Fulgurite, tektites
Mineral species may have more than one variety which are distinguished by differences in color, habit (shape), or other properties
Mineral Variety
Two or more minerals among which there is a range in chemical composition
Mineral Series
A set of minerals with the same basic structure but different composition
Mineral Group
a=b=c, α = β = γ = 90°
Cubic
a = b ≠ c, α = β = γ= 90°
Tetragonal
a ≠ b ≠ c, α = β = γ= 90°
Orthorhombic
a = b = c, α = β = γ ≠ 90°
Rhombohedral
a = b ≠ c, α = β = 90°, γ = 120°
Hexagonal
a ≠ b ≠ c, α = γ = 90°, β ≠ 90°
Monoclinic
a ≠ b ≠ c, α ≠ β ≠ γ
Triclinic
Mineral distribution in each crystal system (%)
Cubic =
Tetragonal =
Orthorhombic =
Rhombohedral =
Hexagonal =
Monoclinic =
Triclinic =
a1 = a2 =a3 ; all angles are 90 degrees
Cubic/ Isometric
a1 = a2 =a3 but not equal to c ; angles a1-3 to c are equal to 90 degrees but angles between a axes are equal to 60 degrees
Hexagonal
a1 - a2 are not equal to c ; all angles are 90 degrees
Tetragonal
a not equal to b and not equal to c, all angles are 90 degrees
Orthorhombic
a not equal to b and not equal to c, angle between a &b and b&c are equal to 90 degrees, angle between c&a > 90 degrees
Monoclinic
a not equal to b and not equal to c, all angles are not equal to 90 degrees
Triclinic
Common external morphology that a mineral assumes during an unobstructed growth wheter in isolated or aggregates of crystals
Mineral Habit / Structure
Fine, slender, needle-like crystals (for isolated and distinct crystals)
Acicular
exhibiting narrow bands of different colors as texture (for isolated and distinct crystals). this habit is common in carbonates
Banded
Forming very thin threads which resemble hair (for isolated and distinct crystals).
Capillary
Stout, column-like individuals (for isolated and distinct crystals)
Columnar
Forming long and thin little columns which resemble wire (for isolated and distinct crystals).
Filiform
Somewhat elongated crystals with well developed prism faces (for isolated and distinct crystals).
Prismatic
Crystals somewhat flattened in one direction (for isolated and distinct crystals).
Tabular
Rounded masses resembling to bunches of grapes (for mineral Aggregates).
Botryoidal
Plates approximately parallel about a common center (for mineral Aggregates)..
Concentric
Botryoidal mineral habit is common in?
Hematite and Malchite
Concentric mineral habit is common in?
Malchite
Separates from a thicker stem into several more slender ones, similar to branches which divides into smaller sheets. (for mineral Aggregates).
Dendritic
Common in Manganese Oxides
Dendritic
Crystal groups radiating from a center (for mineral Aggregates). This mineral habit is common in Azurite and Malachite
Divergent or Radiated
Surface covered a layer of small crystals (for mineral Aggregates). common in Quartz.
Drusy
group of parallel slender thread-like strands (for mineral Aggregates). it is common in Chlorite.
Fibrous
Separate easily into plates or leaves (for mineral Aggregates).
Foliated
Cavity line with small crystals(for mineral Aggregates).
Geode
Radiating individuals forming small spherical groups (for mineral Aggregates).
Globular
aggregates of large or small grains (for mineral Aggregates). Common in Minerals formed from crystal settling
Granular
Rounded masses similar to the botryoidal form but the protuberances are more flattened (mineral Aggregates).
Mammillary
Compact crystalline aggregates with no regular forms.
Massive
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.
Pisolititc
rounded grape-like or kidney-shaped masses
Reniform
Lattice-like or network arrangement of slender columnar or threads
Reticulated
Grains having the size of granulated sugar grains.
Saccharoidal
resembling pendant cylinders or cones
Stalactitic
Radiating individuals forming star-like or Circular groups
Stellated
Property of a mineral surface which results from the manner it reflects the incident light.
Luster
appearance of a mineral in the reflected light
Luster
dazzling luster recognizable even at a considerable distance connected with smooth and generally even surface.
Splendent
Distinctly Observed only on closer observation and is generally related to an uneven sample
Shining
Feebly appearing luster even within a short distance
Weakly Shining
When only a feeble light is reflected by some of the minute aggregate parts constituting the surface
Glimmering
Surface does not reflect any light
Dull
Bright reflectance of a metallic surface
Metallic luster
Duller resistance observed when most of the light passes into the mineral and only a small portion of the incident light is reflected from the surface
Nonmetallic Luster
glass -like luster, piece of broken glass
Vitreous or glassy luster
Brilliant, almost oily
Adamantine or luster of the diamond
Luster of a piece of resin, greasy luster
Resinous or waxy
Common when a mineral has a very perfect cleavage and hence partially separated into thin plates.
Pearly
Characteristic of some mineral in fibrous aggregates
Silky
Relative ability of minerals to allow light to pass through them
Diaphaneity
all object maybe distinctly recognized through a large or small piece of it.
Transparent
a blurred image of the object can be seen through a thin small piece of it.
Translucent
no perceptible degree of light is transmitted even through the thinnest piece.
Opaque
Ratio of velocity of light in the air and its lesser velocity in the dense medium.
Refractive index
when the light passes from one medium to another of greater refractive index, ___________, that is bent towards normal to the surface
Reflected
light moves in all directions with equal velocity.
Isotropic
includes non-crystalline substances such as gases, liquid and glass. also includes isometric crystals.
Isotropic
has a single refractive index
Isotropic substance
velocity of light varies with the crystallographic direction and except for special orientations.
Anisotropic
All crystals except isometric system are
Anisotropic
______ refractive indices can be measured in any crystal section
Two
Wave motion is constrained to vibrate in a single plane
Plane polarized
Light passing through an anisotropic crystal in all but a few special directions, is resolved into two polarized rays vibrating at right angles to each other.
Double refraction
