What are minerals and how do they form? Flashcards
What’s an element?
A substance where matter can be seperated
What’s an atom?
Smallest particle that retains the properties of an element
What’s a compound?
A homogeneous substance with atoms or ions of 2 or more different elements
What’s a molecule?
Chemical units that contains specific properties for specific compounds
What does an atom contain?
Electrons, neutrons, and protons
What’s an isotope?
Where there are more neutrons than protons
Can compounds be separated?
No by physical means
How are molecules formed?
When 2 or more atoms or ions of the same or different elements form
How are minerals formed?
In a cooling melt with molecules of the same type
How are rocks formed?
In a cooling melt minerals that form under similar conditions as minerals will combine together
Why are minerals compounds?
Because minerals contain 2 or more different elements
Why does mineral formation happen?
In a molten system atoms move at a rapid speed but when it cool, energy declines, and atoms seek to combine with other atoms
What’s a mineral?
A naturally occurring, crystalline, inorganic, definite composition with properties substance
What does the crystal structure depend on?
The regular arrangement
What does crystalline mean?
Arranged in a very distinct order
What does inorganic mean?
Not produced or not related to life
How are minerals classified?
Dana System; based son major anion group
Do all minerals form crystals?
No
What does it mean when a mineral is hard?
The composite is tight and has the resistance to scratching
List the physical properties.
Color, cleavage, shape, hardness, luster, streak color, fracture, specific gravity, and other specific properties
What’s cleavage?
Tendency to break in one or more direction, leaving smooth, flat, shiny surfaces
How is cleavage determined?
By the molecular structure
Where does cleavage take place?
Parallel to the molecular planes
Is color a always a good guide? and why?
No, because any mineral can become any color if something goes through the holes
What are the basic types of luster?
Metallic/ nonmetallic
What’s a streak?
The color of the mineral’s powerder
How do you determines a mineral’s streak?
Rubbing mineral on an unglazed porcelain plate
What’s a chemical property for minerals?
Acid or vinegar: Fizzes, effervesce with cold, dilute hydrochloric acid
How does Mohs scale of hardness work?
A mineral can scratch all of the minerals below it
Do all minerals form crystals?
No
Why do some minerals like Rose Quartz form?
Because there wasn’t enough space for the crystal structures to grow
What’s a rock?
A naturally occurring solid, combination or one or more minerals
How do we identify rocks?
Rock fabric
What are the types of fabric?
Random: Tweed cloth & granite
Oriented: corduroy & gneiss
What’s rock fabric?
The arrangement or pattern, if any, in the grains
Can water be a mineral?
Yes, ice
Can coal be a mineral?
No, it’s organic. It’s made from remains of plants, therefore it’s a rock
Can rocks go through the same test as minerals?
No, except for limestone and rocks that have calcite in them
What are the major types of rocks?
Sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic
What does igneous mean in Latin?
lava
How are igneous rocks formed?
Through cooling & solidification of magma or lava
What’s lava?
Molten rock on the Earth’s surface
What’s magma?
Molten rock in the Earth
What % of the Earth’s crust is made of igneous rocks?
65
How are sedimentary rocks formed?
The accumulation of sediment (weathered rock debris) in a fluid
What % of the Earth’s crust is made of sedimentary rocks?
8
What do sediments start as?
Fragments
How are igneous rocks characterized?
Interlocking crystals & w/ random fabric
How are sedimentary rocks characterized?
Rounded, cemented grains, and shows stratification
What does metamorphic mean in Latin?
Meta- =self and -morph= change
What % of the Earth’s crust is made of igneous rocks?
27
How are metamorphic rocks formed?
From changing or other rocks by heat or pressure
What kind of changes happen within a metamorphic rock?
Texture & composition
How are metamorphic rocks characterized?
Parallel alignment, linear, & interlocking grains
What’s lithification?
To make rocks in which sediments compact under pressure, expel connote fluids, & gradually become a solid rock
What does lithos- mean in Latin?
Rock
What does -ific mean in Latin?
Process
What’s specific gravity?
The determination of which mineral is heavier than the other
What are some special properties?
Effervescence, taste, magnetism, smell, feel, exsolution lamellea striations, fluoreccence
Do physical properties change over time?
NO
What’s the difference between metallic and non-metallic?
Metallic: looks like metal (lead, nickel, silver, gold, copper) and is opaque (not see through)
Non-metallic: Dull (glassy, Earthy, and pearly)
What’s the difference between cleavage and fracture?
Cleavage: Breaks along flat planar surfaces at a certain angle
Fracture: Breaks along curved surfaces without a definite shape, like a dropped cell-phone screen
What’s hardness?
The resistance of scratches
What’s luster?
The way light reflects on a mineral. Metallic vs Non-metallic
How hard is the streak plate?
6.5
