Questions and Answers
What are the main characteristics shared by all minerals?
Natural, Inorganic, Crystalline, Definite chemical composition, Solid
Which of the following is NOT a common element in the Earth's crust?
All minerals are manmade.
False
What is a mineral?
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What property of a mineral is the least useful for identification?
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What scale is used to measure the hardness of minerals?
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Which mineral has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale?
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What is cleavage in mineralogy?
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What is the definition of luster in mineralogy?
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Which of the following is a special property of some minerals?
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The process in which minerals break along irregular surfaces is known as ______.
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Study Notes
Minerals Overview
- Minerals are natural substances made of single elements or compounds, not manmade.
- Cannot be broken down into simpler substances; elements are the simplest form.
Common Elements in Earth's Crust
- Oxygen constitutes 46%
- Silicon accounts for 29%
- Remaining 25% includes Aluminum (Al), Iron (Fe), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), and Magnesium (Mg).
Mineral Characteristics
- Natural: Occurs in nature.
- Inorganic: Non-living and never was alive.
- Crystalline: Atoms are arranged in an orderly pattern.
- Definite Chemical Composition: Each mineral has a specific chemical formula (e.g., SiO2 for Quartz).
- Solid: Minerals exist as solids, not in gaseous or liquid forms.
Physical Properties of Minerals
Color
- First impression of a mineral, but it's not reliable due to variations in color across minerals.
Streak
- The true color of a mineral when ground into powder; minerals harder than "7" on the Mohs scale may not produce a streak.
Hardness
- Resistance to scratching; classified on the Mohs Hardness Scale from 1 (Talc) to 10 (Diamond).
- Hardness level depends on the packing of atoms in the mineral.
Cleavage
- Tendency to split along specific planes of weakness; described as basal, cubic, or rhombohedral cleavage based on the angles.
Fracture
- Breaks irregularly, producing jagged edges; types include conchoidal, uneven, and fibrous fractures.
Luster
- Appearance of light reflecting off a mineral; categorized into:
- Metallic: Resembles polished metal (e.g., Galena, Pyrite).
- Nonmetallic: Includes terms like vitreous (glass-like), pearly, waxy, earthy, and adamantine (brilliant shine).
Identification of Minerals
- Physical properties used for identification: color, streak, hardness, cleavage, fracture, luster.
Special Properties of Minerals
Magnetism
- Some minerals are attracted to magnets due to the presence of iron, cobalt, or nickel.
Double Refraction
- An optical property where viewing through a mineral results in a doubled image (e.g., Calcite).
Fluorescence
- Some minerals (e.g., Fluorite) can glow under ultraviolet (UV) light.
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Description
Discover the essential characteristics of minerals, including their formation, natural occurrence, and the most common elements found in the Earth's crust. This quiz will test your knowledge about the building blocks of rocks and their significance in geology.
