Minerals and Their Classes

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Questions and Answers

To be a mineral, a substance must be?

naturally occurring, a solid, inorganic, and have a definite chemical composition

What are the two main classes of minerals?

Silicate and Non silicate

What is an example of silicate?

Quartz

What is an example of a Non silicate?

Halite Signup and view all the answers

Silicates have what?

Silicon and Oxygen Signup and view all the answers

Quartz and feldspar are....

The most common minerals Signup and view all the answers

Non Silicates don't contain?

Silicon Signup and view all the answers

What makes up 50% of the crust?

Quartz and feldspar Signup and view all the answers

What are some facts about Silicon?

Silicon-oxygen. Silicon is a tetrahedron. Signup and view all the answers

Ionic is when?

Occurs when the tetrahedrons are NOT touching Signup and view all the answers

What is a single chain?

Tetrahedron connected in a line Signup and view all the answers

What is a double chain?

Double=two single chains linked together Signup and view all the answers

What is a sheet?

Sheet=when you have chains hooked together to form a flat layer Signup and view all the answers

What is network?

Connected in all directions Signup and view all the answers

What are the types of non silicates?

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

What are Oxides made up of?

Oxides= made up of a metal + oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What are sulfides made up of?

Sulfides= metal + sulfur Signup and view all the answers

What are Halides made up of?

Halides= metal + halogen Signup and view all the answers

What are sulfates made up of?

Sulfates= metal + sulfur + oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What are carbonates made up of?

Carbonates= metal + carbon + oxygen Signup and view all the answers

What does an 'ate' ending mean?

Means almost always contains OXYGEN Signup and view all the answers

What are Native elements made up of?

Native elements= only one type of ATOM (pure element) Signup and view all the answers

What are the mineral properties?

Color, Streak, and Crystal shape Signup and view all the answers

Easy to test BUT the same mineral can have different.....?

Colors Signup and view all the answers

Different minerals can be the same color

Luster= shininess examples (metallic, glassy, pearly, dull) Signup and view all the answers

Defined as the color of the powdered form of the mineral

Streak Signup and view all the answers

What are some more mineral properties?

Cleavage, Fracture, Hardness, and Density Signup and view all the answers

Breaks in straight lines?

Cleavage Signup and view all the answers

DOES NOT break into straight lines?

Fracture Signup and view all the answers

Resistance to scratching; compare to minerals on MOH's hardness scale.

Hardness Signup and view all the answers

How heavy it is for its size?

Density Signup and view all the answers

Sparks when hit?

Piezoelectricity Signup and view all the answers

Even more mineral properties....

Magnetism, Fluorescence, Double Refraction, and Radioactivity Signup and view all the answers

Attracts a magnet?

Magnetism Signup and view all the answers

Glows under ultraviolet light?

Fluorescence Signup and view all the answers

The crystal splits light to see a double image?

Double Refraction Signup and view all the answers

Atoms in the mineral break down releasing radiation.

Radioactivity Signup and view all the answers

Can you taste test rocks?

True Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main groups of minerals?

Silicate and Non Silicate Signup and view all the answers

Which two elements are most commonly found in minerals?

Oxygen and Silicon Signup and view all the answers

Are carbonates and halides silicate or non silicate minerals?

Non silicate minerals Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of Minerals

Minerals must be naturally occurring, solid, inorganic, and have a definite chemical composition.

Main Classes of Minerals

Two primary classes are Silicate and Non-silicate.

Examples of Minerals

Silicate example: Quartz
Non-silicate example: Halite

Composition of Silicates

Silicates are composed of Silicon and Oxygen.

Common Minerals

Quartz and feldspar are the most common minerals found in the Earth's crust.

Characteristics of Non-silicates

Non-silicates do not contain Silicon.

Crust Composition

Quartz and feldspar make up approximately 50% of the Earth’s crust.

Silicon Facts

Silicon combines with oxygen to form a tetrahedron structure, consisting of one silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms.

Mineral Structures

Ionic bonding occurs when tetrahedrons are not touching.
Single chains of tetrahedra connect in a line.
Double chains form when two single chains link together.
Sheets are formed when chains connect to create flat layers.
Networks have tetrahedra connected in all directions.

Types of Non-silicates

Non-silicates include Oxides, Sulfates, Sulfides, Halides, Carbonates, and Native elements.

Non-silicate Composition

Oxides: Metal + Oxygen
Sulfides: Metal + Sulfur
Halides: Metal + Halogen (Salts)
Sulfates: Metal + Sulfur + Oxygen
Carbonates: Metal + Carbon + Oxygen
Native elements consist of a single type of atom.

Mineral Properties

Key properties include Color, Streak, Crystal Shape, Cleavage, Fracture, Hardness, and Density.
Color can vary significantly among different minerals.
Streak is the color of a mineral in powdered form.

Additional Properties

Some minerals exhibit piezoelectricity, generating sparks when struck.
Magnetism refers to minerals that attract magnets.
Fluorescence occurs when minerals glow under ultraviolet light.
Double Refraction is the splitting of light that produces a double image.
Radioactivity involves the breakdown of atoms releasing radiation.

Unique Testing

Taste testing can identify certain rocks.

Common Elements in Minerals

The two most commonly found elements in minerals are Oxygen and Silicon.

Non-silicate Mineral Classification

Non-silicate minerals, which constitute about 4% of the Earth’s crust, are divided into six major groups based on their chemical composition.

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Description

This quiz explores the definition and classes of minerals, focusing on silicates and non-silicates. It covers examples, composition, and the overall structure of common minerals found in the Earth's crust. Test your knowledge about these essential geological components and their characteristics!