Minerals Flashcards
What are the mineral forming environments
Igneous, metamorphic, geothermal and weathering
Properties of igneous forming environments
high temperature >700, variable pressure and water, free forming environment
Properties of metamorphic forming environments
moderate to high temperature 200-700, variable pressure, lots of water, confined forming environment
Properties of geothermal forming environments
moderate temperature 200-500, low pressure and abundant water, free forming environment
Properties of weathering forming environments
earth’s surface, abundance of water and oxygen, free forming environment
what is cleavage
tendency of the mineral to split along a plane of weakness
what is fracture
how minerals break when lacking a weak plane
what are the silicate structural groups
isolated tetrahedra structure, single chain structure, double chain structure, sheet structure, framework structure
what are the two main categories of silicates
ferromagnesian and nonferromagnesian
what are the properties of carbonate minerals
low density, light coloured
what are sulphides and how do they form
sulphides and a S^2- with bonded to a metal cation, generally formed through precipitation of geothermal waters
what are halides
they are minerals ionically bonded halogen anion (Cl-,F-)
Why is mineral recognition important
because minerals impart their physical properties on the rock on which they form
