Minerals Flashcards
What is the general process of mineral creation?
- Mixtures of different elements through plums of magma in the Earth’s crust.
- Begin resurfacing in igneous rocks through subduction.
- Different temperatures and pressures = minerals with different cooling rates.
What are the five points of the definition of a mineral?
- Naturally occurring
- Solid
- Inorganic
- Ordered internal structure of atoms
- Definite chemical composition
What are some examples of minerals we use everyday?
- calcite (soft abrasive, toothpaste)
- silica gel (adhesive)
- titanium (white pigment)
- fluorite (cavity prevention)
- diamond
- graphite
Why is graphite used in pencil lead?
The mineral composition of graphite allows it to streak easily on paper (or other surfaces). This is because the secondary bonds/intermolecular forces between these horizontal sheets of C-C bonded atoms are week, and allow the mineral to come off in sheets.
TRUE or FALSE? There are only 5 kinds of 2D regular symmetries in mineral shapes. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
FALSE
There are 5, but minerals cannot form a pentagonal pattern.
1, 2, 3, 4, 6
What is a polymorph mineral?
Some minerals can join in more than one geometric arrangement. The chemical composition stays the same, but the difference lies with the temperature and pressure of formation.
What are some properties of minerals?
- Crystal habit
- Lustre
- Colour
- Streak
- Hardness
- Cleavage
- Fracture
- Specific gravity
- Magnetism
- Reaction to acid
- Double refraction
- Malleability
- Striations
- Twinning
Name three minerals that have natural cubic arrangement?
Calcite (CaCO3)
Fluorite (CaF2)
Halite (NaCl)
Why is colour NOT diagnostic if used for ID alone?
Minerals can come in many different colours due to slight impurities in chemical composition. (ex. Quartz takes on many colours like purple, white, brown, amber, etc)
