Rocks Flashcards
What are rocks made of?
Rocks are made of aggregates of mineral elements.
Example: Granite is a rock made up of quartz, feldspar, and mica.
How many minerals are there?
Scientists have identified more than 2000 mineral elements.
Example: The mineral olivine is composed of magnesium, iron, and silica.
What is the difference between mineral elements in the Earth’s crust and the Earth as a whole?
The Earth’s crust contains more silicon and aluminum, while the Earth as a whole contains more iron, silica, and magnesium.
Example: The Earth’s mantle is rich in magnesium and iron.
What is a rock?
A rock is an aggregate of minerals that forms a definite unit of the Earth’s crust.
Example: Limestone is a type of sedimentary rock formed from the accumulation of shells and coral.
What are the different types of rocks?
The three chief types of rocks are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Example: Marble is a metamorphic rock formed from limestone.
What are some examples of rocks?
Examples of rocks include basalt, granite, sandstone, slate, and quartz.
Example: Sandstone is a sedimentary rock made of sand grains cemented together.
What are minerals?
Minerals are solid inorganic substances occurring naturally.
Example: Diamond is a mineral composed of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice.
What is the chemical composition of minerals?
Minerals have a definite chemical composition.
Example: Quartz is composed of silicon and oxygen atoms in a specific ratio.
What are the four chief mineral groups?
The four chief mineral groups are silicates, carbonates, sulfides, and metallic minerals.
Example: Pyrite is a sulfide mineral composed of iron and sulfur.
What are the most abundant minerals in the Earth?
The most abundant minerals in the Earth are iron, silicon, magnesium, nickel, sulfur, and calcium.
Example: Hematite is an iron mineral often found in sedimentary rocks.
What are the most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust?
The most abundant minerals in the Earth’s crust are silicon, aluminum, iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium.
Example: Feldspar is a common mineral in the Earth’s crust.
