Minerals Flashcards
What is a mineral?
It is a naturally-ocurring, inorganic tolid w/ a definite chemical composition and and ordered internal structure.
What are the general characteristics of minerals?
- naturally-occurring
- inorganic
- solid
- definite chemical composition
- ordered interal structure
What are some components that make up minerals?
- silicates
- oxides
- sulfides
- sulfates
- halides
- carbonates
- native metals
What are silicates?
- they are the major rock-forming minerals
- make up 95% of crust and upper mantle
What are oxides?
- they are metal cations bonded to oxygen anions
- used in making steel/iron (jewelrey & radiation shielding (magnetite i thinky)
What are sulfides?
- metal catioon bonded to sulfide
- source of precious metals (gold, silver, platinum)
What are sulfates?
- metal cation bonded to the sulfate grp
- usually precipitate out of water near the Earth’s surface
What are halides?
they are composed of a halogen ion
What are carbonates?
- presence of of carbonic ion
- ex. baking soda
What are native metals?
- consist of a single metal such as copper and gold
- exist in pure form or alloy
What are the physical properties of minerals?
- luster
- streak
- ## hardness
What is luster?
it is the appearance of light as it is reflected off its surface
under luster?
What is silky?
it has a parallel arrangement of extremely fine fibers
under luster?
What is greasy?
- it resembles fat or grease
- great abundance of microscopic…
under luster?
What is earthy?
- it has the look of soil/clay
- usually found in porous materials
What is streak?
it is the color of a mineral in its powdered form
What are the types of crystal structure of minerals?
- isometric
- tetragonal
- orthorhombic
- monoclinic
- triclinic
- hexagonal
