Name __________________________________ Date ___________ Period_____
I.
Spheres of the Earth a.
Lithosphere- The solid part of earth b.
Biosphere- All living parts of earth (including plants & animals) c.
Atmosphere- Gas layer surrounding earth d.
Hydrosphere- All water on earth, approximately 70% of earth is water
**The spheres interact with one another
Example:
-
Ocean waves hitting the shore (hydrosphere and lithosphere)
II.
Lithosphere- solid part of earth a.
Lithosphere is broken into 4 parts:
Layer of Lithosphere Description of Layer
Crust Outermost layer, thinnest (5-70km)
Mantle
Outer Core
Inner Core
Earth Science Introduction Notes:
Spheres of Earth
Not quite solid, not quite liquid
(molten rock)
2900 km thick
Liquid, made of nickel and iron
Solid nickel and iron
Combined with outer core- 3500km thick

Name __________________________________ Date ___________ Period_____
B. Crust- broken down into two i.
Continental crust- thicker part of crust, found where land is ii.
Oceanic crust- thinner part of crust, found underneath oceans
C. Mantle- i.
Upper and lower mantle ii.
Molten rock- “plastic” consistency iii.
Convection currents- how heat energy is moved through this layer
D. Core- i.
Liquid outer core, solid inner core ii.
Temperature increases as depth increases

Name __________________________________ Date ___________ Period_____
I.
Property
Occur naturally
Inorganic Solid
Unique Chemical
Composition
Crystal Structure
Minerals Must…
1.
Occur naturally
2.
Be inorganic solids
3.
Have unique chemical composition
4.
Have crystal structures
What it means
Found on earth, not man made
A solid form, not containing carbon, non-living
Made of a specific element or compound
Atoms in mineral are arranged in repeating, geometric patterns
II.
i.
There are different groups of minerals ii.
The different groups are based on what elements they are composed of
Groups of Minerals:
A. Silicates i.
Contain silicon and oxygen ii.
Most common type
B. Non- Silicates i.
Contain other elements or combinations of elements
C. Native Elements i.
Composed of single elements

Name __________________________________ Date ___________ Period_____
Mineral Testing
A.
Color- identify the color of the mineral
B.
Streak Test- rub mineral on porcelain tile and look for streak
C.
Cleavage Test- look for flat plains and even surfaces that look like they have been shredded off
D.
Luster Test- look for shiny, reflective surface
*Metallic
*Non- metallic
E.
Acid Reaction Test- Add drop of Hydrochloric Acid and look for bubbles
F.
Hardness Test- Scratch mineral on glass plate and see if scratch is left on the plate. See Moh’s Hardness Scale
 If there is a scratch, the mineral is harder than glass ( >5.5)
 If there is NO scratch, the mineral is softer than glass (<5.5)
Moh’s Hardness Scale

Name __________________________________ Date ___________ Period_____
A.
Crystallization from Magma
-
Magma – molten rock, deep within the Earth
-
As the magma cools, elements combine to form minerals
Ex. Quartz, Feldspar
B.
Precipitation
-
The water on earth contain many dissolved substances (example- salt in the ocean water)
-
If the water evaporates, some of the dissolved substances will react to form minerals
-
The minerals are left behind (after the water has evaporated)- this is called “preciopitation”
Ex. Calcite, halite
C.
Pressure and Temperature changes
-
If existing minerals are exposed to extreme heat and/or pressure, the atoms may rearrange themselves to form new minerals
-
This process is called “Recrystallization”
D.
Hydrothermal Solutions
-
A hydrothermal solution is a very hot water with dissolved substances in it
-
If the hydrothermal solution comes in contact with existing minerals, a chemical reaction will take place and a new mineral can form