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Questions and Answers
What is the term used to describe the way a mineral breaks or splits in a non-flat surface?
What is the term used to describe the way a mineral breaks or splits in a non-flat surface?
Which property of a mineral describes its mass per unit volume?
Which property of a mineral describes its mass per unit volume?
What is the term used to describe the proportion of elements that make up a mineral?
What is the term used to describe the proportion of elements that make up a mineral?
Which of the following industries uses minerals like potassium and phosphorus?
Which of the following industries uses minerals like potassium and phosphorus?
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What is the ability of a mineral to react with other substances, such as acids or water?
What is the ability of a mineral to react with other substances, such as acids or water?
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What is the primary characteristic that defines a mineral?
What is the primary characteristic that defines a mineral?
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Which type of mineral has silicon and oxygen as the main components?
Which type of mineral has silicon and oxygen as the main components?
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What is the term for a mineral's resistance to scratching?
What is the term for a mineral's resistance to scratching?
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What is the term for the way a mineral breaks or splits along flat surfaces?
What is the term for the way a mineral breaks or splits along flat surfaces?
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Which of the following is an example of a Native Element mineral?
Which of the following is an example of a Native Element mineral?
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What is the term for the color of the powder produced when a mineral is scratched on a porcelain plate?
What is the term for the color of the powder produced when a mineral is scratched on a porcelain plate?
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Study Notes
Definition and Classification
- Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances with a specific chemical composition and a crystalline structure.
- Classified into different groups based on their chemical composition and properties.
Types of Minerals
- Oxides: Minerals with oxygen as the anion, e.g., hematite (Fe2O3), magnetite (Fe3O4).
- Silicates: Minerals with silicon and oxygen as the main components, e.g., quartz (SiO2), feldspar (KAlSi3O8 – NaAlSi3O8 – CaAlSi3O8).
- Carbonates: Minerals with carbon and oxygen as the anion, e.g., calcite (CaCO3), dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2).
- Sulfides: Minerals with sulfur as the anion, e.g., pyrite (FeS2), galena (PbS).
- Halides: Minerals with chlorine, bromine, or iodine as the anion, e.g., halite (NaCl), sylvite (KCl).
- Native Elements: Minerals composed of a single element, e.g., gold (Au), copper (Cu), sulfur (S).
- Phosphates: Minerals with phosphorus and oxygen as the anion, e.g., apatite (Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH)).
Physical Properties
- Color: Minerals can have a wide range of colors, from transparent to opaque.
- Luster: The way a mineral reflects light, e.g., metallic, glassy, earthy.
- Streak: The color of the powder produced when a mineral is scratched on a porcelain plate.
- Hardness: A mineral's resistance to scratching, measured on the Mohs hardness scale (1-10).
- Cleavage: The way a mineral breaks or splits along flat surfaces.
- Fracture: The way a mineral breaks or splits in a non-flat surface.
- Density: A mineral's mass per unit volume.
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Composition: The proportion of elements that make up a mineral.
- Reactivity: The ability of a mineral to react with other substances, e.g., acids, water.
- Solubility: The ability of a mineral to dissolve in a solvent.
Uses of Minerals
- Construction: Minerals used in building materials, e.g., limestone, sand, gravel.
- Manufacturing: Minerals used in the production of goods, e.g., iron, copper, chromium.
- Electronics: Minerals used in electronic devices, e.g., copper, silver, gold.
- Agriculture: Minerals used as fertilizers, e.g., potassium, phosphorus.
- Jewelry and Decorative Items: Minerals used in the production of gemstones, e.g., diamonds, rubies, emeralds.
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Description
Test your knowledge about minerals, including their definition, classification, types, physical and chemical properties, and uses. Learn about the different categories of minerals, their characteristics, and applications.
