MINERALS Flashcards
1.1-1.6
A mineral to a rock is what an atom is to a
molecule
Rock definition
A rock is a solid consisting of an aggregate of mineral grains, pieces of older rocks, or a mass of natural glass
what are minerals
building blocks of the planet
make up most rocks and sediment
how many known minerals
4000
mineral definition
a homogeneous, naturally occurring, solid, inorganic* substance with a definable chemical composition and an internal structure characterized by an orderly arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in a lattice
Naturally occurring definition and exceptions
form naturally from earth processes
not man made
lab grown minerale are known as synthetic minerals
3 types of earth processes
solidification
precipitation
formed by organisms
Inorganic* (difference between made by an organism and organic)
organic contains carbon-carbon or carbon hydrogen bonds.
Organic mineral exceptions
diamond, graphite
a solid lacking internal structure
glass
crystalline structure
atoms occupy fixed positions in a grid called a lattice
What is a crystal
a crystal is a single continuous piece of crystalline solid, typically bounded by flat crystal faces
how do crystal faces grow
they grow naturally as the minerals form and reflect atomic structure
equivalent crystal faces found on two samples of the same mineral
always bear the same angular relationship
mineral properties are determined by
the geometry of the atomic packing and the nature of chemical bonding
the way elements are packed into a crystal lattice depends upon
the size and the charge of the ions of that element
are anions usually bigger than cations
yes, anions are usually bigger
a large central cation requires
a larger number of anions
a small central cations requires
a smaller number of anions
the two polymorphs of carbon are
graphite and diamond
the diamond lattice is
tetrahedral
the graphite lattice is in
sheets
how do crystals grow
atoms attach to the outer surface
in an open cavity crystal faces grow
perfectly
early crystals act as seeds
for further mineral growth
types of crystals (how they encountered other crystals)
ephedra’s, anhedral, subhedral
euhedral defintion
all perfect edges
anhedral
no perfect edges
subhedral
some perfet edges
two types of mineral properties
chemical and physical
9 ways to identify minerals
color
streak
luster
hardness
specific gravity
crystal habit
cleavage
reaction to acid
special properties
describe using colors rule
don’t use one mineral to describe another
name of the hardness scale
mohs hardness scale
mohs hardness scale is directly linked to
atomic bond strenght
hard minerals can scratch
soft minerals
what is streak
a property where a mineral leaves a crushed powder on an unglazed porcelain plate
minerals leave a different streak than
their outward color
define luster
a property that refers to the way that a mineral surface scatters light
2 main subdivisions of luster
metallic and nonmetallic
specific gravity definition
the density of the mineral as defined by the ratio of the weight of a volume and the weight of an equal volume of water at 4 degrees celcuis
what is hefting
lifting minerals in your hands to gain a sense of specific gravity
crystal habit refers to
the shape of a single crystal with well formed faces, or to an aggregate of many well formed crystals
List common geometric shapes that define crystal habit
cubic
prismatic bladed
platy
needle like
fibrous
list special properties
effervescence (reactivity with acid)
magnetism
taste
smell
feel
striations (grooves)
marking on paper
Mineral associated with effervescence
calcium carbonate
Minerals associated with magnetism
magnetite
pyrite
hematite
Mineral associated with taste
halite
Mineral associated with smell
sulfur
Mineral associated with feel
talc
Mineral associated with striations
plagioclase
Mineral associated with marking on paper
graphite
different minerals break in
different ways
what is cleavage
the tendency for a mineral to break along lattice planes with weaker atomic bonds
a mineral has cleavage if
it breaks to form distinct planar surfaces that have a specific orientation