Earth Science: Minerals and Their Properties
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Questions and Answers

What are the two primary elements that make up about 75% of the Earth's crust?

  • Aluminum and magnesium
  • Carbon and iron
  • Calcium and sodium
  • Silicon and oxygen (correct)

    • Which class of minerals is primarily composed of silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons?

  • Sulfides
  • Halides
  • Oxides
  • Silicates (correct)

    • What defines a mineral as a sulfide?

  • Contains halogen ions
  • Contains aluminum cations
  • Contains sulfur anions bonded to metals (correct)
  • Contains carbonic ions

    • Which mineral class contains minerals that typically precipitate out of water?

    <p>Sulfates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a halide?

    <p>Fluorite (CaF2)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes carbonates from other mineral classes?

    <p>Presence of carbonic ion (CO3)2-</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is true regarding native metals?

    <p>They consist of a single metal element</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is the external shape of crystals related to their atomic structure?

    <p>It is the external expression of an internal ordered arrangement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which characteristic is NOT shared by all minerals?

    <p>Ability to decompose</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines the specific atomic arrangement in minerals?

    <p>Regular and repetitive geometric patterns</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why are substances like volcanic glass not considered minerals?

    <p>They are not crystalline and are amorphous</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a characteristic required for a substance to be classified as a mineral?

    <p>Definite chemical composition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is true about the relationship between graphite and diamond?

    <p>Both are made of pure carbon but have different structures</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral is represented by the chemical formula SiO2?

    <p>Quartz</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following metals is NOT mentioned as being found in retired cell phones?

    <p>Iron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these minerals is classified as a mineraloid due to its lack of crystalline structure?

    <p>Opal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the external shape of a crystal developed during its formation?

    <p>Crystal habit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following physical properties is described as a mineral’s resistance to being scratched?

    <p>Hardness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral is considered the softest on the Mohs Hardness Scale?

    <p>Talc</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does 'cleavage' refer to in the context of mineral properties?

    <p>How a mineral tends to break along preferred planes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral typically does NOT produce a streak on the streak plate due to its hardness?

    <p>Diamond</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following terms describes irregular breaks in a mineral that do not follow any planes?

    <p>Fracture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What general term characterizes minerals based on their crystal structure?

    <p>Crystal system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The true color of a mineral is typically identified by which property?

    <p>Streak</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What industry primarily utilizes fluorite for the production of hydrofluoric acid?

    <p>Optical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a use associated with halite?

    <p>Abrasives</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what application is garnet primarily used?

    <p>Water filtration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral is used as a dry lubricant and in brake linings?

    <p>Graphite</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary industrial use of processed gypsum?

    <p>Cement manufacture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral is often referred to as 'fools gold' and is used in sulfur production?

    <p>Pyrite</p> Signup and view all the answers

    For which application is quartz best known due to its piezoelectric properties?

    <p>Pressure gauges</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following items is typically NOT produced using fluorite?

    <p>Bauxite</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What criteria determine whether a rock or mineral is considered an ore?

    <p>Overall chemical composition and market value</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of mining is used for ore minerals that are close to the Earth’s surface?

    <p>Surface mining</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a method of underground mining?

    <p>Shaft mining</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following materials is considered a non-metallic resource?

    <p>Talc</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the milling process primarily involve?

    <p>Separating minerals from waste material</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does heavy media separation work in the milling process?

    <p>Submerging crushed rocks in liquid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of flotation in the milling methods?

    <p>It relies on differences in sink or float properties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which metallic mineral is specifically mentioned as an example of a metallic resource?

    <p>Platinum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Overview of Minerals and Mineral Resources

    • Approximately 130 million cell phones are retired in the US annually, weighing about 14,000 metric tons.
    • Retired cell phones contain around 2,100 metric tons of copper (Cu), 46 metric tons of silver (Ag), 3.9 metric tons of gold (Au), 2 metric tons of palladium (Pd), and 0.04 metric tons of platinum (Pt).

    Definition of Minerals

    • Natural: Occur naturally and are not manmade.
    • Inorganic: Not derived from living organisms.
    • Crystalline Solids: Atoms are arranged in an orderly pattern.
    • Definite Chemical Composition: Specific chemical formulas with elements in precise ratios.
    • Specific Atomic Arrangement: Organized in regular geometric patterns; substances lacking ordered internal structure are termed mineraloids.

    Classification of Minerals

    • Silicates: Composed of silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons; major rock-forming minerals such as olivine and quartz.
    • Oxides: Contain oxygen anions and metal ions; examples include cuprite (Cu2O) and hematite (Fe2O3).
    • Sulfides: Consist of metal cations bonded to sulfide (S2-); examples include galena (PbS) and pyrite (FeS2).
    • Sulfates: Contain sulfate ions (SO4) with other elements; gypsum (CaSO4 · 2H2O) is a common example.
    • Halides: Composed of halogen ions and metals; includes halite (NaCl) and fluorite (CaF2).
    • Carbonates: Contain carbonic ions (CO3)2-; calcite (CaCO3) is a key example.
    • Native Metals: Consist of single metals like copper and gold.

    Crystal Formation

    • Minerals form crystals, which are external geometric forms with ordered internal structures.
    • Crystal habit describes the external shape and can be granular, acicular, or encrusting.

    Physical Properties of Minerals

    • Color: Initial but unreliable indicator; many minerals can appear in different colors.
    • Streak: True color of the mineral in powdered form, providing more reliable identification.
    • Hardness: Resistance to scratching, measured on Mohs Hardness Scale from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).
    • Cleavage: Tendency to break along predetermined planes, while fracture refers to irregular breaks.
    • Mineral Uses: Nonmetallic minerals serve various industries, including glass, ceramics, and abrasive materials.

    Mineral Applications

    • Fluorite: Used in hydrofluoric acid production, ceramics, and toothpaste.
    • Garnet: Used in water filtration, electronics, and abrasives.
    • Graphite: Functions as a lubricant, hardener, and pencil material.
    • Gypsum: Used in plaster, wallboard, and agricultural applications.
    • Halite: Used for dietary purposes, food preservation, and industrial applications like sodium hydroxide production.
    • Pyrite: Employed in sulfur and sulfuric acid production.
    • Quartz: Utilized in electronic applications due to piezoelectric properties and as a gemstone.

    Mining Minerals

    • Mining refers to the extraction of nonrenewable mineral resources, classified into metallic (e.g., gold, copper) and nonmetallic (e.g., talc, gravel).
    • Surface Mining: Suitable for minerals near the surface; includes open pit, quarrying, and strip mining methods.
    • Underground Mining: Targets deep mineral deposits below the surface.

    Milling Processes

    • Extracted materials undergo separation and recovery processes to isolate valuable minerals from waste.
    • Heavy Media Separation: Relies on density differences to separate heavy minerals.
    • Magnetic Separation: Utilizes magnets to extract magnetic minerals from waste.
    • Flotation: Involves agitation to separate minerals based on buoyancy and surface properties.

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    Description

    Test your knowledge of Earth science with this quiz focused on minerals and their characteristics. Explore topics including the primary elements in the Earth's crust, types of mineral classes, and specific properties that distinguish various minerals. Challenge yourself and see how much you really know about the building blocks of our planet.

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