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Geology > Minerals > Flashcards

Minerals Flashcards

1
Q

what is a mineral?

A

-naturally occurring
-formed geologically
-solid
-crystalline
-mostly inorganic

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2
Q

how are minerals formed (in short)?

A

geologic processes! but some living organisms can also create minerals like bones, shells, and teeth

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3
Q

is ice a mineral?

A

YES! but water ins’t. minerals have to be solid with a crystalline structure

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4
Q

how are minerals defined?

A

more commonly by structure than by chemical formula. only simple minerals such as ice or quartz are defined by chemical formula

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5
Q

what is a crystal?

A

single continuous piece of crystalline solid
bounded by flat surfaces (crystal faces)
crystal faces grow naturally as the mineral forms

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6
Q

do crystals possess magical powers?

A

no :( no scientific evidence that crystals affect health or mood

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7
Q

describe the mineral structure from a closer look

A

minerals display symmetry (mirror image or rotation about axis)

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8
Q

describe minerals on a microscopic level

A

ordered atoms packed tightly together. held in place by chemical bonds. the way atoms are packed defines crystal structure

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9
Q

what do physical properties of minerals depend on?

A

identity of atoms, arrangement of atoms, nature of atomic bonds

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10
Q

how are diamond and graphite similar? how are they different?

A

they are polymorphs. they are made entirely of carbon but diamond atoms are arranged in tetrahedra whereas graphite atoms are arranged in sheets. diamond is hardest mineral, graphite softest

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11
Q

what are the five ways crystals can form?

A

SPDBG
solidification from a melt
precipitation from a solution
solid-state diffusion
biomineralization
precipitating from a gas

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12
Q

what is solidification from melt?

A

crystals grow when the melt cools. liquid freezes to form solid

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13
Q

what is precipitation from a solution?

A

seeds form when a solution becomes saturated

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14
Q

what are the two types of minerals based on their crystal faces?

A

anhedral: grown in tight spaces, no crystal faces, more prevalent!
euhedral: grown in open cavity, good crystals faces
more space = good faces

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15
Q

how can minerals be destroyed?

A

melting (heat breaks bonds)
dissolving (solvents, eg.water break bonds)
chemical reaction (reactive materials)

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16
Q

name 3 physical properties of minerals

A

color
streak on ceramic tile
luster
hardness
specific gravity
fracture or cleavage

17
Q

what causes colour changes in same minerals?

A

trace impurities eg. quartz can exhibit broad colour range

18
Q

KNOW WHAT STREAK IS. THINK OF LAB

A
19
Q

What is luster?

A

the way a mineral surface scatters light. metallic and nonmetallic

20
Q

what is hardness? how is it measured?

A

scratching resistance of a material. derives from strength of atomic bonds. MOHRS scale

21
Q

what is specific gravity?

A

density of a mineral. how heavy it feels (heft)

22
Q

what is crystal habit?

A

the external shape of a crystal or group of crystals. It’s determined by the crystal’s crystallographic form and the conditions in which it grew

23
Q

what mineral reacts with HCl and causes effervescence?

A

calcite. CaCO3

24
Q

what is fracture?

A

Fracture is the property of a mineral breaking in a more or less random pattern with no smooth planar surfaces.

25
Q

what is cleavage?

A

tendency of a mineral to break along flat, smooth surfaces called cleavage planes when struck. The cleavage planes are caused by the alignment of weaker bonds between atoms in the mineral’s crystal lattice. produces flat shiny surfaces

26
Q

what is the most abundant mineral class?

A

silicates
SiO4
rock-forming minerals. constitute almost entire crust and mantle of Earth. QUARTZ

27
Q

Name 5 other mineral classes. CHOSS

A

oxides: metal cations (Fe, Ti) bonded to oxygen
sulfides: metal cations bonded to sulfide anion (eg pyrite)
sulfates: bond to sulfate anionic group. forms by evaporation of seawater
halides: Cl or F
Carbonates: CO3

28
Q

what are minerals with no dominant anion?

A

native metals such as copper, gold, silver, platinum, etc. pure masses of single mass or ally

29
Q

Describe the building block of the silicate mineral

A

silicon-oxygen tetrahedron. one Si atom, 4 O atoms

30
Q

name the 5 forms of silicate minerals

A

independent tetrahedra (linked by cations), OLIVINE OR GARNET
single chains (share 2 oxygens)
double chains (share 2 or 3 oxygens)
sheet (share 3 oxygens) MICA, CLAY
framework (all oxygens are shared) FELDSPARS, QUARTZ

Geology (19 decks)

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