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ESCI 111 > Rocks > Flashcards

Rocks Flashcards

1
Q

What is a rock?

Hint: includes the loosely defined definition as well

A

Rocks are assemblages of elements forming minerals with specific crystal structures. It aggregates one or more minerals to form a rock fragment.

Aggregate implies that the minerals are joined in such a way that their properties are retained.

Or rocks are more loosely defined:
A rock is any solid that consists of an aggregate of minerals pieces of pre-existing rocks or a mass of mineral-like matter )e.g natural gas).

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2
Q

What does aggregate (in the rock definition) imply?

A

Aggregate implies that the minerals are joined in such a way that their properties are retained.

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3
Q

What is a mineral?

A

A mineral is any naturally occurring inorganic solid that posses an orderly crystalline structure and can be represented by a chemical formula.

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4
Q

What are the five characteristics that Earth’s minerals exhibit?

A
  1. Naturally occurring
  2. Solid structure
  3. Orderly crystalline structure
  4. Generally inorganic
  5. Represented by a chemical formula
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5
Q

What does “naturally occurring” in minerals mean?

Hint: 1st characteristic of minerals

A

Minerals form by natural, geological processes.

Synthetic materials meaning those produced in the laboratory or by human invention are NONT considered minerals.

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6
Q

What does a “solid structure” in minerals mean?

Hint: 2nd characteristic of minerals

A

Only crystalline substances that are solid at temperatures encounter at Earth’s surface are considered minerals

E.g Ice (frozen water) fits these criteria and is considered a mineral, while liquid water and water vapour do NOT.

The EXCEPTION is MERCURY which is found in its liquid form in nature.

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7
Q

What mineral is the exception to the 2nd characteristic that minerals have?

A

Mercury, as it is found in its liquid form in nature.

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8
Q

What does an “orderly crystalline structure” in minerals mean?

Hint: 3rd characteristic of minerals

A

Minerals are crystalline structures meaning their atoms are arranged in an orderly, repetitive manner.

Some naturally occurring solids such as volcanic gas (obsidian), lack a repetitive atomic structure, so are NOT considered crystals.

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9
Q

What does “generally inorganic” mean?

Hint: 4th characteristic of minerals

A

Inorganic crystalline solids (e.g table salt) that are found NATURALLY in the ground are considered minerals while ORGANIC compounds AREN’T.

E.g sugar (from sugar cane) is an organic compound.

Many marine animals secrete inorganic compounds, (CaCO3) calcite, in the form of shells and coral reefs. If these materials are buried and become part of the rock record, they are considered minerals.

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10
Q

How do some marine animals secreting inorganic compounds become considered minerals?

A

Since they secrete inorganic compounds, (CaCO3) calcite, in the form of shells and coral reefs. If these materials are buried and become part of the rock record, they are considered minerals.

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11
Q

What does “represented by a chemical formula” for minerals mean?

Hint: 5th characteristic of minerals

A

Mineral quartz = SiO2 (consists of silicon and oxygen atoms (1:2))

Therefore, this portion (1:2) of silicon to oxygen applies to any sample of quartz, regardless of its origin.

However, some minerals vary within specific well-defined limits. This occurs because certain elements can substitute for others of similar size without changing the mineral’s internal structure (e.g Mg and Fe can occupy the same site in the crystal structure for olivine, (Mg, Fe)2SiO4. The ratio 2:1:4 is fixed.

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12
Q

What is the exception for minerals being “represented by a chemical formula”?

Hint: Ratio

A

Some minerals vary within specific well-defined limits. This occurs because certain elements can substitute for others of similar size without changing the mineral’s internal structure (e.g Mg and Fe can occupy the same site in the crystal structure for olivine, (Mg, Fe)2SiO4. The ratio 2:1:4 is fixed.

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13
Q

Can rocks be composed of just one mineral?

A

Yes, such as limestone (calcite).

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14
Q

What is Granite composed of?

A

Granite contains several types of minerals.

Quartz
Feldspar
Hornblende

Note that Granite can look different colours based on the minerals.

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15
Q

Can rocks be made up of nonmineral matter?

A

Yes, some rocks are composed of nonmineral matter.

E.g volcanic rocks; obsidian and pumice are non-crystalline glassy substances, and coal contains organic debris.

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16
Q

What are the two things that determine the properties of rocks?

A

The properties of rocks are determined largely by the chemical composition and crystalline structure of the minerals contained within them.

17
Q

How many minerals have been discovered?

A

There are over 4,000 minerals names and more to be discovered.

18
Q

How many elements makeup 98% of Earth’s crust?

A

8 elements

19
Q

What percentage of Earth’s crust is made up of silicon and oxygen?

A

74.3%.

20
Q

What is formed when silicon and oxygen combine with other elements? And what percentage of this makes up of Earth’s crust.

A

Silicon and oxygen combine with other elements to form “silicates” making up 95% of Earth’s crust.

The rest are “non-silicates” (oxides, sulfides, sulfates, carbonates).

21
Q

What are non-silicates?

A

Non-silicates are minerals that do NOT include an oxygen-silicon unit. They include oxides, sulfides, sulfates and carbonates.

NOTE: Oxygen can be present in them but not in combination with silicon.

22
Q

How are rocks formed?

Hint: 6 steps

A
  1. Starts with elements and atoms.
    2, They are combined forming a crystal structure.
  2. Later becoming a crystal (mineral).
  3. These can turn to sand grain (textural component).
  4. Pieces of sandstone join forming a rock.
  5. Over time sandstone beds are seen (outcrop).
23
Q

What is the purpose of studying rocks?

HInt: 6 things

A
  1. A guide to the internal structure and composition of the Earth.
  2. They are a record of the evolution of the Earth.
  3. Record of Earth history and life.
  4. Useful economic materials, building materials, precious materials.
  5. Shows environmental conditions over the past.
  6. Shows where we came from and materials origin

E.g wood=trees=ground soil=extracted from rocks.
E.g plsatic=hydrocarbons
E.g battery=lithium=rocks in the ground.

24
Q

How do you get from a Metamorphic rock to a sedimentary rock?

Hint: The rock cycle

A
  1. Melting the metamorphic rock
  2. Turns back to magma.
  3. The magma then cools, solidifies and ultimately crystallisation occurs.
  4. An igneous rock is then produced.
  5. Through the process of erosion and transportation.
  6. Sediment is carried away which then settles on the ground,
  7. Compaction and lithification then occurs.
  8. Resulting in a sedimentary rock being formed.
  9. To turn back into a metamorphic rock, heat and pressure are needed.

ESCI 111 (18 decks)

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