Minerals Flashcards
Atoms bond in two main ways, what are they?
ionic bonding and covalent bonding
what are isotopes?
same element, but different quantity of electrons, like C12 and C14, one is used for carbon dating
Minerals form when _______ bond together. There are about 4000 minerals. Most are a combination of _____ or more elements
elements
two
What is the definition of minerals?
naturally occurring, inorganic crystalline solids that have a definite chemical composition. Minerals have characteristic physical properties
Define what naturally occurring means
If the mineral is manufactured like glass or quarts it does not count, can’t be made by us
Define what inorganic means
Indicating that a mineral is not made from living or fossilized organic material.
Shells are usually considered organic
Define what crystalline solid means?
The structure of the mineral, stays the same structure when broken – like cubes or triangles
What is the difference between crystal and crystalline?
Crystal is a solid material with a natural geometrically regular form and symmetrically arranged flat faces. Crystals are molecules arranged in a pattern that is repetitive in 3-D. Crystalline refers to describing a material that is composed of a bunch of crystals.
What is the difference between mineral vs mineraloid?
Minerals are inorganic crystalline solids with a characteristic chemical composition. Mineraloids are mineral-like substances that do not demonstrate crystallinity
define definite chemical composition
The mineral is composed of its typical elements in the specific arrangment
Polished surface vs crystal facet
Polished surface – The rock has been cut and then a polish goes over the cut edge
Crystal facet – the rock is naturally smooth and clear
What are the two ways minerals form? explain them
Formed by geological processes like solidification of magma
This forms minerals, if it cools slowly then the crystals have a change to form and grow.
Obsidian is a volcanic glass, this one cooled quickly and it not a mineral. Often used for weapons
Granite – mineral grains compacted together – crystals are large because magma cooled under the ground in a magma chamber
Using the colling of magma we can hypothesis where the rock came from
Precipitation out of water supersaturated with dissolved ions
Is there is water around a magma chamber the water picks up minerals and ions, but when the water cools the minerals will precipitate out.
What are the characteristic physical properties of minerals?
Hardness, luster
diaphaneity, color, streak, feel, taste, magnetic properties, specific gravity, chemical reactions, fluorescence, scent, iridescence, opalescence, crystal form, cleavage, fracture, crystal habit, acicular, botryoidal, euhedral crystals, prismatic
__________ is the relative measure of a minerals resistance to scratching
hardness
______ scale of hardness is used to determine hardness. ______ numbers on the scale can scratch ______ numbers.
Mohs
higher
lower
_____ is how light reflects off the surface of a mineral
Luster
_______ is a minerals ability to transmit light
Diaphaneity
What are the 3 types of diapheniety
transparent: transmit light freely
Translucent: transmit light but it is hard to see through the mineral
Opaque: do not transmit light and appear solid
__________ can be misleading because there are several minerals that share the same ________, also impurities and transition metals contained in the mineral can change minerals _________.
same word for all 3
colour
If colour is changed from tarnish(oxygen and water changing the surface of the mineral), which test should we use?
texture or streak test
_________ is the mark mineral makes on a porcelain tile when u scratch the mineral on the tile.
Streak
_______ is fake gold, when you streak it, it is _______
pyrite
black
Ways a mineral can feel like
greasy or soapy
Way a mineral can taste like
salty
______ _________ is refering to the weight of the mineral
Specific gravity
specific gravity is relative to the weight of an equal volume of ________
water
what is the equation for specific gravity?
Specific gravity = (weight of mineral) / (weight of equal volume of water)
Define heft
the weight of the rock of your hand
When adding hydrochloric acid to calcite the rock will fizz. Which characteristic physical property is this referring to?
Chemical reactions
__________ happens when the mineral is irritated with ultra violet light
fluorescence