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What term is used to describe the pattern or direction produced by the spontaneous breakdown of uranium and plutonium?
What term is used to describe the pattern or direction produced by the spontaneous breakdown of uranium and plutonium?
Which mineral property refers to the weight of the mineral compared to the weight of an equal volume of water?
Which mineral property refers to the weight of the mineral compared to the weight of an equal volume of water?
Which group do minerals containing the chemical element silicon, like quartz and feldspar, belong to?
Which group do minerals containing the chemical element silicon, like quartz and feldspar, belong to?
What is the specific gravity of gold, a member of the native metals group?
What is the specific gravity of gold, a member of the native metals group?
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Which fracture type is described as shell-like?
Which fracture type is described as shell-like?
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What is the most distinctive fracture type among those mentioned in the text?
What is the most distinctive fracture type among those mentioned in the text?
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What is the main difference between dikes and sills?
What is the main difference between dikes and sills?
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Why do mud particles tend to stay in the wind or water longer compared to sand particles?
Why do mud particles tend to stay in the wind or water longer compared to sand particles?
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In sedimentary rocks, what is the process that preserves layers called beds?
In sedimentary rocks, what is the process that preserves layers called beds?
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Which type of sedimentary rocks are formed from organic sediments that are remains of living organisms?
Which type of sedimentary rocks are formed from organic sediments that are remains of living organisms?
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What is the property of a mineral to resist abrasion or scratching called?
What is the property of a mineral to resist abrasion or scratching called?
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What is the most common type of organic rock mentioned in the text?
What is the most common type of organic rock mentioned in the text?
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Which substance ranks highest on the Mohs scale of hardness?
Which substance ranks highest on the Mohs scale of hardness?
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How are evaporites formed according to the text?
How are evaporites formed according to the text?
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How are mineral species primarily classified?
How are mineral species primarily classified?
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Which statement is true about minerals?
Which statement is true about minerals?
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What is a key characteristic of minerals in terms of physical properties?
What is a key characteristic of minerals in terms of physical properties?
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Which metallic mineral substance is the only one known to be in liquid form?
Which metallic mineral substance is the only one known to be in liquid form?
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What is the meaning of 'metamorphic' in the context of rocks?
What is the meaning of 'metamorphic' in the context of rocks?
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Which type of rock originates as either igneous or sedimentary rock?
Which type of rock originates as either igneous or sedimentary rock?
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What is the main factor that causes the formation of metamorphic rocks?
What is the main factor that causes the formation of metamorphic rocks?
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Which metamorphic rock is used for making buildings, monuments, and sculptures due to its beautiful appearance?
Which metamorphic rock is used for making buildings, monuments, and sculptures due to its beautiful appearance?
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What type of rocks can be classified as foliated and non-foliated?
What type of rocks can be classified as foliated and non-foliated?
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What substance is used to manufacture plaster and wallboard?
What substance is used to manufacture plaster and wallboard?
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Which rock type forms when pre-existing rock undergoes alteration due to high temperature and pressure?
Which rock type forms when pre-existing rock undergoes alteration due to high temperature and pressure?
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'Stalactite' and 'stalagmite' are associated with deposits from which type of rock?
'Stalactite' and 'stalagmite' are associated with deposits from which type of rock?
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What is the main difference between foliated and non-foliated metamorphic rocks?
What is the main difference between foliated and non-foliated metamorphic rocks?
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What mineral is mainly responsible for the formation of stalactites and stalagmites in caves?
What mineral is mainly responsible for the formation of stalactites and stalagmites in caves?
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What is the special property of magnetism in minerals?
What is the special property of magnetism in minerals?
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Which group of minerals includes precious and semi-precious stones known for their color, luster, and hardness?
Which group of minerals includes precious and semi-precious stones known for their color, luster, and hardness?
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What is the term used for the ability of a mineral to give off light when heat is applied?
What is the term used for the ability of a mineral to give off light when heat is applied?
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What property allows some minerals to show a six-rayed 'star' when polished?
What property allows some minerals to show a six-rayed 'star' when polished?
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Which group of minerals contains calcium and magnesium but is not considered a source of metals?
Which group of minerals contains calcium and magnesium but is not considered a source of metals?
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Which group of minerals may be extracted on a commercial scale as they contain metals concentrated through physical and chemical changes?
Which group of minerals may be extracted on a commercial scale as they contain metals concentrated through physical and chemical changes?
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Study Notes
Characteristics of Minerals
- Minerals occur naturally as inorganic substances.
- Their composition can be expressed in terms of chemical formula.
- Minerals have a definite geometric arrangement of their constituent atoms, which is a crystalline solid.
- Minerals have a definite set of physical properties that are fixed within certain limits.
Physical Properties of Minerals
- Hardness is the property of a mineral to resist abrasion or scratching.
- Mohs scale of hardness: talc, gypsum, calcite, fluorite, apatite, feldspar, quartz, topaz, corundum, and diamond.
- Non-metallic minerals: carbonates, sulfates, and other compounds or native elements such as sulfur.
- Examples of non-metallic minerals: calcite, dolomite, sulfur, halite, kernite, gypsum, apatite, fluorite, graphite, pearls.
Special Properties of Minerals
- Magnetism: ability of minerals to be attracted to magnets (e.g., iron).
- Asterism: an ore is a rock or mineral deposit from which a metal may be extracted on a commercial scale.
- Fluorescence: ability to convert x-rays or ultraviolet light to visible light (e.g., fluorite, barite, and celestite).
- Thermoluminescence: ability to give-off light when heat is applied to a mineral.
- Radioactivity: minerals such as uranium and plutonium produce invisible radiation through the spontaneous breakdown of their atomic nuclei.
- Double refraction: some crystals have the ability to split light waves into two waves (e.g., calcite).
- Specific gravity: refers to the weight of the mineral compared to the weight of an equal volume of water.
- Fracture: the way a mineral breaks; words used to describe fractures are splintery, fibrous, irregular, uneven, and earthy.
Classification of Minerals
- Siliceous minerals: contain the chemical element silicon; examples: quartz, feldspar, and calcite.
- Metallic minerals: contain metals; examples: gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, zinc, tin, aluminum, mercury, titanium, uranium.
- Non-metallic minerals: do not contain metals; examples: calcite, dolomite, sulfur, halite, kernite, gypsum, apatite, fluorite, graphite, pearls.
- Gem minerals: minerals made into precious and semi-precious stones; examples: fluorite, calcite.
Classification of Rocks
- Igneous rocks: originate from magma or lava.
- Sedimentary rocks: form from the accumulation of sediments, such as sand, silt, and clay.
- Metamorphic rocks: originate from either igneous or sedimentary rock which has changed in texture or mineral composition due to temperature change.
Rock Cycle
- The rock cycle describes how rocks change, or evolve, from one another.
- It begins as rocks are uplifted or pushed up by tectonic forces.
- The exposed rocks erode as a result of surface processes, such as rain and wind.
- The eroded particles or sediments travel by wind or water until they are deposited, and the deposited material settles into layers.
- Additional sediment may bury in these layers until heat and pressure metamorphose, or change the underlying sediment to metamorphic rock.
- Rocks can also be subducted (sunk down into the lower layers of the earth) by plate tectonic processes.
- Buried and subducted rocks may also melt and recrystallize into igneous rocks.
- Metamorphic, sedimentary, and igneous rocks may then be uplifted, starting the rock cycle again.
Classification of Metamorphic Rocks
- Foliated: minerals are flattened and arranged in parallel layers or bands which tend to form flakes or needles.
- Non-foliated: fracture without definite pattern.
Uses of Metamorphic Rocks
- Marble: a recrystallized limestone; used for buildings, monuments, and sculpture.
- Slate: formed from shale; used for blackboards, roofs, sinks, and tops of laboratory tables.
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Description
Learn about the formation of dikes and sills in geology, which are tabular intrusive masses formed from cooled magma between existing rock layers. Explore how these geological features originate and their characteristics in different environments.
