3 - Minerals Test and Flashcards

Definition of mineral

A naturally occurring inorganic solid that has an orderly crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition that allows for some variation

"Naturally occuring"

Formed by natural geological processes, as opposed to artificial methods

"Generally inorganic"

Inorganic crystalline solids found naturally in the ground

"Solid substance"

Only solid crystalline substances are considered minerals

"Orderly crystalline structure"

Atoms and ions of minerals are arranged in an orderly and repetitive manner

"Definite chemical composition that allows for some variation"

Chemical compositions of minerals can very slightly, such as with quartz and its different colors

Protons

Dense particles with a positive charge

How is the atomic number of an element determined?

The number of protons in the nucleus

Neutrons

Dense particle with no charge

What particles are in the nucleus of an atom?

Protons and neutrons

Atom

Smallest particle that cannot be chemically split

Electrons

Particle with a negative charge

Covalent bond

Result of a pair of atoms sharing one or more valence electrons

Ionic Bond

Result of an atom giving up one or more electrons to form ions

Ion

A positively or negatively charged atom

Metallic Bond

Result of multiple atoms contributing their valence electrons to a freely moving pool of electrons

Element

Atoms with the same number of protons, as well as the same chemical and physical properties

Chemical Compound

Result of elements joining with other elements

Octet Rule

Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons until eight valence electrons have been attained

Chemical Bond

Transfer or sharing of electrons that allows each atom to gain a full shell of valence electrons

Diagnostic Properties

Unique traits some minerals possess that are particularly useful in identification (example: hematite is dark-colored, but has a bright red streak)

Ambiguous Properties

Properties of minerals that vary among different specimens (example: color)

Luster

The appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral

Common terms to describe luster

Metallic, submetallic, nonmetallic, vitreous/glassy, dull/earthy

Color

Phenomena of light that allows for objects to be differentiated

Streak

Color of a mineral in powdered form

Ability to transmit light

The ability to see through mineral samples to varying degrees (common terms: opaque, transluscent, and transparent)

Crystal shape/habit

Shape of an individual crystal or an aggregate of crystals

Hardness

Measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching and abrasion

Mohs scale

A series of ten minerals used as a standard in determining hardness

Cleavage

The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding

Fracture

Any break or rupture along a rock

Tenacity

A mineral's resistance to breaking or deforming

Density

A property of matter defined as mass per unit of volume

Specific gravity

The ratio of a substance's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water

Rock-forming minerals

The relatively few minerals that make up most of the rocks within Earth's crust

Economic mineral

A mineral used extensively in the manufacture of products

Classification of minerals (hierarchy)

Mineral species (quartz) -> mineral varieties (smoky quartz, amethyst)

Silicate

A mineral that has the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron as its basic structure

Eight elements that make up rock-forming minerals

Oxygen (O), silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg)

Nonsilicate

Mineral groups that lack silica in structures, thus accounting for less than ten percent of Earth's crust

Silicon-oxygen tetrahedron

A structure composed of four oxygen atoms surrounding a single silicon atom that constitutes the basic building block of silicate minerals

Independent tetrahedron

Simplest silicate structure

Polymerization

The ability of a silicate tetrahedra to link together in a variety of configurations, such as chains, sheets, and three-dimensional structures

Light/Nonferromagnesian silicate

Silicate mineral that lacks iron and/or magnesium, which tend to have lighter colors and lower specific gravities

Potassium feldspar

Abundant light silicate containing potassium ions

Plagioclase feldspar

Type of feldspar containing both sodium and calcium ions that freely substitute for one another depending on the crystallization environment

Quartz

Common silicate mineral consisting entirely of silicon and oxygen, resists weathering well

Muscovite

Common member of mica family that has an excellent cleavage (sheets)

Clay (mineral)

Group of light-colored silicates that is a result of the weathering of igneous rocks. It is a major component of sedimentary rocks and soil

Dark/ferromagnesian silicate

Silicate mineral that contains ions of iron and/or magnesium and thus is much darker in color wtih a higher specific gravity

Olivine

High-temperature dark silicate usually found in basalt

Augite

Black silicate mineral that is a dominant component of basalt

Hornblende

Dark green to black mineral found in igneous rocks

Biotite

Dark iron-rich mineral with excellent cleavage

Garnet

Silicate mineral composed of individual silica tetrahedrons and exhibits conchoidal fracture

Calcite

Calcium carbonate, one of the two most common carbonate minerals

Dolomite

Calcium/magnesium carbonate, one of the two most common carbonate minerals

Halite

Table salt, commonly found in layers that are the last vestiges of ancient evaporated seas

Gypsum

Hydrated calcium sulfate mineral from which plaster, drywall, and other building materials are made

Common nonsilicate mineral groups

Carbonates, halides, oxides, sulfides, sulfates, native/single elements

Common silicate mineral groups

Olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, biotite, muscovite, potassium feldspar, plagioclase, quartz

Renewable

Refers to a resource that is virtually inexhaustible or that can be replenished over short time spans

Nonrenewable

Refers to a resource that forms or accumulates over such long time spans that it must be considered as fixed in total quantity

Mineral resource

All discovered and undiscovered deposits of a useful mineral that can be extracted now or at some point in the future

Ore deposit

A useful metallic mineral that can be mined at a profit or certain nonmetallic minerals

Flashcards: 3 - Minerals