Module 3 Flashcards
refers to the overall shape or growth pattern of the mineral. It can
be described as equant, elongate and platy.
Crystal Habit
three dimensions of the mineral have about the same length, like that of
a cube or sphere.
Equant
forms prismatic or prism-like crystals that are thicker than the needle
as in a pencil.
Elongate
– looks like a flattened and thin crystal (like plate). (ei. Wulfenite)
Platy
describes the appearance of a mineral when light is reflected from its
surface. It can be described as opaque, transparent, dull, or shiny.
Luster
is opaque and very reflective like gold and silver.
Metallic luster
refers to the tendency of minerals to break
along very smooth, flat and shiny surfaces. It can be described as one, two, three,
four or all direction.
– Cleavage
may break along random, irregular
surfaces. It can be classified as conchoidal, uneven, hackly, splintery, and earthy.
mineral fracture
is a measure of the mineral’s resistance to scratching.
Hardness
in 1812 ranked minerals
according to hardness
Friedrich Mohs
_________ minerals will scratch ________ minerals.
harder, softer
He selected ten minerals of distinctly
different hardness that ranged from a very soft mineral (_______) to a very hard
mineral (____________).
talc, diamond
is one of the most obvious properties of a mineral but not reliable alone.
Color
refers to the color of the mineral in its powdered form, which may or may
not be the same color as the mineral.
Streak
- Some minerals are attracted to a hand magnet.
Magnetism
____ is the only common mineral that is always strongly magnetic.
Magnetite
-presence of very thin, parallel grooves. The grooves are present in only
one of the two sets of cleavages and are best seen with a hand lens. They may not
be visible on all parts of a cleavage surface.
Striations
is the weight of that mineral divided by the weight of an
equal volume of water.
Specific Gravity
Some minerals have distinctive __________ (halite is salt, and
tastes like it). Some give off a distinctive ________(the powder of some sulfide minerals,
such as sphalerite, a zinc sulfide, smells like rotten eggs), and some have a distinctive
_________ (talc feels slippery).
Taste, Odor, Feel
show the presence and arrangement of atoms
in minerals.
Chemical properties of minerals
Some minerals, especially carbonate minerals, react
visibly with acid. When a drop of
____________________________ is placed on calcite, it readily bubbles or effervesces,
releasing carbon dioxide.
dilute hydrochloric acid [HCl]
____________________ minerals form into sulfuric acid when exposed to air and
water.
Metallic sulfide
Cuarto (2016) classified minerals according to their chemical
composition using ______________ which divides minerals into eight basic classes. The classes are native elements, silicates, oxides, sulfides, sulfates, halides, carbonates, phosphates, and mineraloids.
Dana System
These minerals are
naturally occurring in
nature in an uncombined
form with a distinct
mineral structure. It can
be classified as metal,
semimetals and non-
metals.
Native Elements
This is the largest group of
minerals. It contains
silicon and oxygen, with
some aluminum,
magnesium, iron and
calcium.
Silicates
It is formed from the
combination of a metal
with oxygen. This group
ranges from dull ores like
bauxite to gems like
rubies and sapphires.
Oxides
These are made of
compounds of sulfur
usually with a metal. They
tend to be heavy and
brittle.
Sulfides
These are made of
compounds of sulfur
combined with metals and
oxygen. It is a large group
of minerals that tend to be
soft, and translucent.
Sulfates
They form from halogen
elements like chlorine,
bromine, fluorine, and
iodine combined with
metallic elements. They
are very soft and easily
dissolved in water.
Halides
These are group of
minerals made of carbon,
oxygen, and a metallic
element.
Carbonates
They are often formed
when other minerals are
broken down by
weathering. They are often
brightly colored.
Phosphates
It is the term used for
those substances that do
not fit neatly into one of
the eight classes.
Mineraloid
