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Questions and Answers
Which of the following is a characteristic that defines a mineral?
Which of the following is a characteristic that defines a mineral?
- Amorphous solid
- Variable chemical composition
- Organic in origin
- Ordered internal structure (correct)
What type of bond involves the sharing of electrons?
What type of bond involves the sharing of electrons?
- Ionic bond
- Hydrogen bond
- Covalent bond (correct)
- Metallic bond
Which statement about crystals is correct?
Which statement about crystals is correct?
- Crystals can be formed only through organic processes.
- They have random internal atomic arrangements.
- Crystal faces reflect the mineral’s chemical properties.
- They must have a definite external shape. (correct)
What is the main distinction between ionic and metallic bonds?
What is the main distinction between ionic and metallic bonds?
How many approved minerals were recognized by IMA-CNMNC as of May 2021?
How many approved minerals were recognized by IMA-CNMNC as of May 2021?
What is the main factor driving the plate tectonic system?
What is the main factor driving the plate tectonic system?
Which layer of the Earth is primarily composed of liquid rock?
Which layer of the Earth is primarily composed of liquid rock?
Which of the following best describes mantle convection?
Which of the following best describes mantle convection?
What do seismic waves primarily indicate about the Earth's interior?
What do seismic waves primarily indicate about the Earth's interior?
What is the primary distinction between the Earth's crust and the mantle?
What is the primary distinction between the Earth's crust and the mantle?
In terms of seismic velocity profiles, which layer of the Earth typically has the highest velocity?
In terms of seismic velocity profiles, which layer of the Earth typically has the highest velocity?
Which of the following statements is true regarding the mechanical layers of the Earth?
Which of the following statements is true regarding the mechanical layers of the Earth?
What primarily causes the variation in seismic wave speeds through different Earth layers?
What primarily causes the variation in seismic wave speeds through different Earth layers?
Which mechanical property is most associated with the lithosphere?
Which mechanical property is most associated with the lithosphere?
What is the primary role of seismic waves in studying the Earth's interior?
What is the primary role of seismic waves in studying the Earth's interior?
What primarily affects the size of the minerals formed during crystallization?
What primarily affects the size of the minerals formed during crystallization?
Which environment is characterized by high temperature and pressure conditions altering the crystalline structure?
Which environment is characterized by high temperature and pressure conditions altering the crystalline structure?
What type of mineral formation occurs via chemical weathering?
What type of mineral formation occurs via chemical weathering?
In what mineral classification group do gold and copper belong?
In what mineral classification group do gold and copper belong?
Which mineral is predominantly composed of the silica tetrahedron structure?
Which mineral is predominantly composed of the silica tetrahedron structure?
Which factor is NOT mentioned as affecting mineral growth?
Which factor is NOT mentioned as affecting mineral growth?
What type of mineral formation occurs as a result of evaporation?
What type of mineral formation occurs as a result of evaporation?
What type of mineral typically forms from biological processes?
What type of mineral typically forms from biological processes?
How are minerals classified based on their dominant anion?
How are minerals classified based on their dominant anion?
Which type of igneous rock is associated with slower cooling rates leading to larger crystals?
Which type of igneous rock is associated with slower cooling rates leading to larger crystals?
What type of bond is generally found in sulfides?
What type of bond is generally found in sulfides?
What is the average percentage of oxygen in the continental crust?
What is the average percentage of oxygen in the continental crust?
Which of the following is NOT a common rock-forming mineral?
Which of the following is NOT a common rock-forming mineral?
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Study Notes
Minerals
- Naturally occurring, inorganic, homogeneous solid with a definite chemical composition and ordered internal structure.
- Minerals are made up of matter.
- Matter exists in three states: solid, liquid, and gas.
- Matter is made up of atoms that are the smallest units that retain the properties of an element.
- Atoms are made up of subatomic particles called protons, neutrons, and electrons.
- **Chemical ** bonds are the forces holding atoms together.
- Covalent bonds form by atoms sharing electrons.
- Ionic bonds form by atoms giving electrons away.
- Metallic bonds form where electrons are free to move throughout the metal, this makes metals good conductors.
- Crystals are minerals or other solids with a definite chemical composition and external shape.
- Crystals form when a solid forms from a liquid or gas.
- Crystal faces are the external expression of the mineral's internal atomic structure.
- 5744 approved minerals by IMA-CNMNC as of May 2021.
- Approximately 30 common minerals.
- Approximately 10 rock-forming minerals.
Mineral Formation
- Minerals can form in various environments, including:
- Magmatic: from magma
- Hydrothermal: from hot fluids
- Metamorphic: from higher P-T (pressure and temperature)
- Evaporite: from evaporation
- Sedimentary: from weathering or organisms.
- Minerals can form through crystallization.
- Crystallization is the process by which a solid forms from a liquid or gas.
- Nucleation is the initial formation of a solid from a liquid or gas.
- Growth is the process by which the solid grows in size.
- Factors that affect the rate of mineral growth include:
- Rate of cooling
- Amount of gas present
- Magma composition
- Magma is molten rock found beneath the earth's surface.
- Hydrothermal fluids are hot, aqueous solutions that are often rich in dissolved minerals.
- Metamorphic environments are characterized by high temperatures and pressures.
- Evaporite environments are characterized by high evaporation rates.
- Sedimentary environments are characterized by the accumulation of sediments.
Mineral Classification
- Minerals are classified based on their chemical composition and internal structure.
- Minerals are divided into silicates and non-silicates.
- Silicates are minerals that contain silicon and oxygen.
- Non-silicates are minerals that do not contain silicon and oxygen.
- The most common minerals found in the earth's crust:
- Plagioclase
- Alkali feldspar
- Quartz
- Pyroxene
- Amphibole
- Mica
- Clay
- Other
- Non-silicates
- Silicates
- Bowen's reaction series is a diagram that shows the order in which minerals crystallize from magma.
- Bowen’s Reaction Series:
- Ultramafic (Dunite, Komatiite)
- Gabbro
- Basalt
- Diorite
- Andesite
- Granite
- Rhyolite
Non-silicates
- Native elements: composed of one element such as gold, iron, copper, diamond.
- Sulfides: composed of a metal and sulfur such as galena, cinnabar, pyrite.
- Sulfosalts: composed of a metal and a semi-metal such as enargite.
- Oxides: composed of a metal and oxygen such as hematite, magnetite.
- Hydroxides: composed of a metal and OH or H2O such as goethite.
- Halides: composed of a metal and halogen such as fluorite, halite, sylvite.
- Carbonates: composed of a metal and CO3 such as calcite, dolomite
- Sulfates: composed of a metal and SO4 such as gypsum.
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