Minerals Flashcards
What are the requirements for classifying something as a mineral?
- Is naturally occuring
- Is solid
- Is inorganic (non-biogenic)
-Has specific chemical composition
-Has an orderly atomic arrangement (aka regular crystalline structure characterized by groups of atoms arranged in periodic repetition).
What are the four types of electron bonds?
Covalent (electron-sharing), Ionic (electrostatic attraction), Metallic and Van Der Waals
Generally, covalent bonds happen between what two types of elements? How about ionic bonds?
Covalent bonds are generally between two non-metals and ionic is a metal and a non-metal.
What are the ways minerals can form?
Precipitation
Crystallization
Metamorphism
Weathering
Organic formation
What is the weakest type of electron bond? The strongest?
Weakest is Van der Walls, strongest is covalent.
In terms of forming minerals, what is precipitation?
It is from an aqueous solution with the change in temperature
In terms of forming minerals, what is crystallization?
From lava/magma with a change in temperature.
In terms of forming minerals, what is metamorphism?
formation of new minerals directly from the elements within existing minerals under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure. Usually happens underground.
In terms of forming minerals, what is weathering?
Mechanical weathering or chemical weathering. interaction with other elements. during which minerals unstable at Earth’s surface may be altered to other minerals
In terms of forming minerals, what is organic formation?
formation of minerals within shells (primarily calcite) and teeth and bones (primarily apatite) by organisms.
NOTE: these organically formed minerals are still called minerals because they can also form inorganically
What are the what are the 8 elements that mostly make up the earths crust?
Oxygen (46%), Silicon (28%), Aluminum (8%), iron (6%), Magnesium (4%), Calcium (2.4%), Potassium (2.3%), Sodium (2.1%).
The rest is less than 1% of “other”.
What are the 8 types of rock forming minerals?
- Silicates - 90% of crust, containing Si & O. Tectosilicates are 70%
- Native elements - precious metals (Au, Ag…)
- Carbonates - CO3, calcite, dolomite
- Oxides - contains O. hematite, magnetite
- Sulfides - contain S.
pyrite - Sulfates - SO4. gypsum
- Phosphates - PO4.
apatite - Halides - contains halide anion F-, Cl-, Br-, I-. halite
What are the properties of minerals determined by?
Specific chemical composition (color, density, magnetism) & orderly atomic structure (form, breakage, hardness)
In terms of mineral properties, protons/neutrons are responsible for ____________.
density
In terms of appearance, electrons are responsible for ____________ & __________.
hardness & color
Color can be due to e- transfer
A _________________ is a mineral with the same chemical composition but a different internal structure.
polymorph.
An example would be graphite and diamond
What are two ways that a minerals “streak” can be used?
Streak is the true color of a mineral, disregarding an impurities.
Can be used to distinguish between minerals that have similar colors
Can be used to compare the same
mineral that may occur in a variety of colors
A mineral with a (strong/weak) color & streak contains
abundant transition
elements.
strong
What is the difference between cleavage and fracture?
Cleavage signifies a lack of uniformity in the strength in the bonds, so the mineral will break on specific planes that are even and uniform.
Fracture means that all the bonds are of equal strength, so the mineral will break irregularly