Minerals and Mining Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are the two main groups that minerals are classified into?

Silicates and Non-silicates (correct)

Organic and Inorganic

Precious and Semi-precious

Metals and Non-metals

How are minerals classified?

They are classified into groups based on their composition.

Which of these two groups is more common?

Silicates (correct)

Non-silicates

What are silicate minerals?

Silicate minerals are minerals that contain both silicon and oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a silicate mineral.

Quartz or Feldspar. Signup and view all the answers

What are the six non-silicate mineral groups?

Native Elements, Carbonates, Halides, Oxides, Sulfates, and Sulfides. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a Native Element?

Gold. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a Carbonate?

Calcite. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a Halide?

Halite or Fluorite. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of an Oxide?

Magnetite. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a Sulfate?

Gypsum. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a Sulfide?

Pyrite. Signup and view all the answers

What are the criteria that must be met for an object to be considered a mineral?

Naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, set chemical composition, crystal structure. Signup and view all the answers

What is Crystal Structure?

When some atoms repeat the same way. Signup and view all the answers

What non-silicate mineral group reacts with acid?

Carbonates. Signup and view all the answers

What is luster?

The way light reflects off of the surface of a mineral. Signup and view all the answers

What is streak?

The color of a mineral in its powdered form. Signup and view all the answers

Why is looking at a mineral's color not the best way to identify a mineral?

Some minerals come in a variety of different colors, which means that several different minerals can be the same color. Signup and view all the answers

What is fluorescence?

When a mineral will glow a completely different color than normal when viewed under ultraviolet light. Signup and view all the answers

What is phosphorescence?

The ability for a mineral to continue to glow after the ultraviolet light is turned off. Signup and view all the answers

What is double refraction?

When a mineral bends light to produce a double image when you look through it. Signup and view all the answers

Name a mineral that possesses the ability to double refract.

Calcite. Signup and view all the answers

Name a mineral that is magnetic.

Magnetite. Signup and view all the answers

What is Moh's Hardness Scale?

A scale where you test how hard a mineral is, from 1 (being the softest) to 10 (being the hardest). Signup and view all the answers

How can you tell Halite and Calcite apart?

Calcite reacts with acid; Halite tastes like salt. Signup and view all the answers

How can you tell Fluorite and Quartz apart?

Quartz is much harder than Fluorite. Signup and view all the answers

What makes a gemstone different from other minerals?

Gemstones are specific, rare minerals that form deep in the earth. They are also different because of their beautiful colors and durability. Signup and view all the answers

What is a carat?

A carat is the unit of weight for precious minerals. It comes from the Greek word keration, which means the carab bean. One carat is approximately the weight of a carab bean. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of mining?

Surface and Underground Signup and view all the answers

Which type of mining is more expensive and more dangerous?

Underground Signup and view all the answers

What is reclamation?

Mining reclamation means returning the land to the way it was before it was mined. Signup and view all the answers

What is diamond used for?

Jewelry, tools. Signup and view all the answers

What is graphite used for?

Pencils, steel making. Signup and view all the answers

What is gypsum used for?

Wallboard. Signup and view all the answers

What is halite used for?

Salt, food seasoning/preservation, chemicals. Signup and view all the answers

What is gold used for?

Jewelry, coins, dentistry, computers. Signup and view all the answers

Native Elements are composed of?

One element. Signup and view all the answers

Carbonates contain combinations of?

Carbon and oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

Halides form when?

Atoms of fluorine, chlorine, iodine, or bromine combine with sodium, potassium, or calcium. Signup and view all the answers

Oxides form when?

An element combines with oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mineral Classification

Minerals are classified into two primary groups: Silicates and Non-Silicates.
Classification is based on mineral composition.

Silicate Minerals

Silicate minerals contain both silicon and oxygen; they are the more common group.
Examples include Quartz and Feldspar.

Non-Silicate Mineral Groups

Six groups of non-silicate minerals: Native Elements, Carbonates, Halides, Oxides, Sulfates, and Sulfides.
Example of Native Element: Gold.
Example of Carbonate: Calcite.
Example of Halide: Halite/Fluorite.
Example of Oxide: Magnetite.
Example of Sulfate: Gypsum.
Example of Sulfide: Pyrite.

Mineral Criteria

To qualify as a mineral, a substance must be: naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, have a set chemical composition, and exhibit a crystal structure.

Crystal Structure

Defined by the repeated arrangement of atoms.

Reactivity and Identification

Carbonates are the non-silicate group that reacts with acid.
Luster refers to how light reflects from a mineral's surface.
Streak is the color of a mineral in powdered form; not always reliable for identification due to color variation.

Luminescence Properties

Fluorescence is the ability of a mineral to glow differently under ultraviolet light.
Phosphorescence allows minerals to glow after ultraviolet light is removed.

Refraction and Magnetism

Double refraction involves bending light to produce a double image.
Calcite is a mineral that demonstrates double refraction.
Magnetite is a naturally magnetic mineral.

Moh's Hardness Scale

Ranges from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest), used to assess the hardness of minerals.

Distinguishing Minerals

Calcite can be distinguished from Halite as it reacts with acid, while Halite tastes like salt.
Quartz is harder than Fluorite; this is a distinguishing factor.

Gemstones

Gemstones are rare, beautiful minerals that are valued for their aesthetics and durability.
The weight of precious minerals is measured in carats; one carat is roughly equivalent to the weight of a carob bean.

Mining Types

Two types of mining: Surface and Underground.
Underground mining is typically more expensive and dangerous.

Reclamation

Refers to the process of restoring mined land to its original condition.

Mineral Uses

Diamonds are utilized in jewelry and tools.
Graphite is commonly used in pencils and steel-making.
Gypsum is used in wallboard production.
Halite serves as salt for food seasoning/preservation and in chemical production.
Gold is valuable for jewelry, coins, dentistry, and electronics.

Composition of Mineral Groups

Native Elements consist of a single element.
Carbonates are characterized by combinations of carbon and oxygen.
Halides form when elements like fluorine, chlorine, iodine, or bromine combine with metals like sodium, potassium, or calcium.

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Description

Test your knowledge on minerals and their classifications with these flashcards. Learn the differences between silicates and non-silicates, and how minerals are grouped based on their composition. Perfect for anyone interested in geology or earth sciences.