Questions and Answers
What is a mineral?
Why is glass not a mineral?
Because its atoms are arranged in a non-orderly pattern.
What does cleavage refer to in geology?
How a mineral breaks along preferred planes.
How are minerals formed?
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How can you determine the hardness of a mineral?
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What is the Mohs Hardness Scale?
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How can you identify a mineral?
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What is luster in relation to minerals?
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What is specific gravity?
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What is streak in geology?
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What is the relationship between silicon-oxygen tetrahedral bonds in micas and the characteristic cleavage of micas?
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Can you crush a diamond with calcite?
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How are gemstones faceted?
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What are silicate minerals?
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Study Notes
Minerals Overview
- A mineral is a naturally occurring, solid, inorganic substance with a homogeneous composition.
- Atoms in a mineral are arranged in a crystalline structure, forming an orderly pattern.
Glass vs. Mineral
- Glass does not qualify as a mineral due to its non-crystalline, disordered atomic arrangement.
Cleavage in Minerals
- Cleavage refers to the way a mineral breaks along specific preferred planes.
Formation of Minerals
- Minerals can form through multiple processes:
- Solidification of molten material
- Precipitation from gas or water
- Diffusion within a solid
- Metabolic activities of organisms
- Acronym for formation processes: SMDP (Solidification, Metabolism, Diffusion, Precipitation).
Determining Hardness
- Hardness of a mineral is assessed by its resistance to scratching, compared to the Mohs Hardness Scale.
Mohs Hardness Scale
- The scale categorizes mineral hardness from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).
- Minerals with a hardness of 5 or higher can scratch softer minerals (hardness below 5).
- Key minerals: Diamond = 10, Quartz = 7, Gypsum = 2.
Identifying Minerals
- Identification criteria include:
- Color
- Luster (light scattering quality)
- Crystal structure
- Streak (color of powdered form)
- Hardness
- Specific gravity (density)
- Chemical composition
Luster Defined
- Luster describes how a mineral's surface reflects and scatters light.
Specific Gravity
- Specific gravity is a measure of a mineral's density.
Streak Characteristics
- Streak refers to the color of the powder a mineral produces when rubbed against a surface.
Micas and Cleavage
- Micas exhibit a parallel silicon-oxygen tetrahedral bond, resulting in one strong cleavage plane, allowing them to split into flat sheets.
Diamond's Resilience
- Diamonds cannot be crushed by calcite; specialized tools with diamond tips are required for cutting or shaping.
Gemstone Faceting
- Faceting of gemstones is achieved by grinding and polishing using a faceting machine.
Silicate Minerals
- Silicate minerals are the most abundant on Earth.
- The silicon-oxygen tetrahedron serves as the fundamental building block for silicate minerals.
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Description
Test your knowledge on mineral definitions and properties with this engaging quiz based on Chapter Three of Geology. Explore the classifications of minerals and understand why certain substances, like glass, do not qualify as minerals. Prepare to reinforce your geology vocabulary and concepts!
