Minerals Flashcards
What is a mineral?
A naturally occuring, inorganic solid, that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition
What are the 5 characteristics of a mineral?
Formed naturally, inorganic, solid, shape, chemical composition
Inorganic:
Meaning it can’t come from material that was once a living thing
Solid:
Definite shape and volume
How can you identify a mineral? (8 characteristics)
color, streak, luster, density, hardness, crystal system, cleavage, fracture
Color:
used to identify a few minerals that have their own characteristic coloring
Streak:
Color of a mineral’s powder - porcelion - (unglazed)
Luster:
How light is reflected from a mineral’s surface
Density:
mass % volume
Hardness:
using Mohs hardness scale, this scale ranks 10 minerals from softest to hardest
Crystal system:
crystals grow atom by atom into a particular structure - 6 different categories
Cleavage:
if a mineral breaks easily along flat surfaces
Fracture:
When a mineral breaks apart in an irregular way
What is an example of a special property?
magnetism
What is the softest mineral on Mohs hardness scale?
talc
What is the hardest mineral on Mohs hardness scale?
diamond
What is a geode?
a rounded, hollow rock that is often lined with mineral crystals
What is crystallization?
the process by which atoms are arranged to form a mineral with a crystal structure
What are 2 ways minerals can form?
crystallization of magma and lava - crystallization of materials disolved in water
What are the 3 types of rocks?
Igneous - Sedimentary - Metamorphic
How does igneous rock form?
volcanic activity
How does sedimentary rock form?
Deposition
How does metamorphic rock form?
Heat and pressure
What is a rock cycle?
a series of processes that change one type of rock into another type of rock
What is the difference between magma and lava?
magma is inside the volcano - lava is outside the volcano
What is an extrusive rock? What size crystals does it have?
igneous rocks formed from lava that erupted onto earth’s surface - small crystals
What is an intrusive rock? What size crystal does it have?
rock that formed when magma hardened beneath earth’s surface - large crystals
What are 2 classifications for metamorphic rocks?
foliated: metamorphic rocks that have their grains arranged in parallel lines
non-foliated: mineral grains arranged randomly
What are the 4 steps in the process of forming sedimentary rocks?
erosion, deposition, compaction, cementation