Study Guide Chapter 3 Minerals
Quiz Friday 10/30
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STUDY FOR ATLEAST 30 MINUTIES & MEMORIZE THESE DEFINITIONS AND
NOTES!!
Mineral: a naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite crystalline structure
Element: a substance that can NOT be seperated or broken down into simplier substances
by chemical means
Compound: a substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by
chemical bonds
Crystal: a solid whose atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in definite pattern
Silicate Mineral: a mineral that contains a combination of silicon, oxygen, and one or more
metals
Non-Silicate Mineral: a mineral that does NOT contain compounds of silicon and oxygen
Luster: the way in which a mineral reflects light
Streak: the color of the power of a mineral
Cleavage: the splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces
Fracture: the manner in which a mineral breaks along either a curved or irregular surfaces
Hardness: a measure of the ability of a mineral to resist scratching
Density: the ratio of mass of a substance to the volume of the substance
Ore: a natural material whose concentration of economically valuable minerals is high
enough for the mineral to be mined profitably.
Reclamation: the process of returning lands to its original condition after mining is
completed.
 Minerals must be:
o
Non-living or inorganic
o
Solid
o
Have a crystalline structure
o
Be formed in nature
 Minerals can be either elements or compounds (2 or more elements).
 Mineral crystals are solid, geometric forms that are produced by repeating patter
of atoms.
 Minerals are classified as Silicate minerals or Non-Silicate based on the elements
of which they are composed (chemical composition)
 Silicates contain both Silicon & Oxygen and make up 90% of the Earth’s Crust.
o
Quartz
o
Mica
o
Feldspar
 Non-Silicates do not contain the combination of Silicon or Oxygen. They can contain
one or the other but not both.
o
Native Elements-only made of 1 type of element
o
Carbonates
o
Halides
o
Oxides
o
Sulfates
o
Sulfides
 Properties that can be used to identify minerals are:
o
Color (not the best test)
o
Luster
o
Streak
o
Cleavage
o
Fracture
o
Hardness
o
Density
o
Special Properties-fluorescence, chemical reaction, magnetism, taste, radio
activity (tested by Geiger Counter)
 Environments in which minerals form may be located at or near the Earth’s surface
or deep below the surface.
 The two types of mining are surface mining and subsurface mining.
o
Surface Mines- Open Pit, Surface Coal Mines, Quarries
o
Sub-surface requires that a passage way be dug to reach the ore
 Two ways to reduce the effects of mining are the reclamation of mined land and
recycling of mineral products
 Some Metallic and non-metallic minerals have important economic and industrial
uses.