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Questions and Answers
Explain the behavior of a mineral when it is deformed or broken.
Explain the behavior of a mineral when it is deformed or broken.
Tenacity
Which property of a mineral allows it to be cut with a knife?
Which property of a mineral allows it to be cut with a knife?
Sectility
What property of a mineral allows it to be pounded out into thin sheets?
What property of a mineral allows it to be pounded out into thin sheets?
Malleability
What term describes the property of a mineral breaking or powdering easily?
What term describes the property of a mineral breaking or powdering easily?
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Which property allows a mineral to regain its former shape as pressure is released?
Which property allows a mineral to regain its former shape as pressure is released?
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What property allows a mineral to be drawn into a wire and is associated with toughness?
What property allows a mineral to be drawn into a wire and is associated with toughness?
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Tabular or plate-like shape
Tabular or plate-like shape
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Possess approximately the same side length in every direction
Possess approximately the same side length in every direction
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Fine, feathery scales resembling plumes
Fine, feathery scales resembling plumes
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Blade-like structure, elongated flat crystals resembling knife blades
Blade-like structure, elongated flat crystals resembling knife blades
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Naturally occurring, inorganic, solid element or compound, crystalline substance, definite atomic structure, chemical composition
Naturally occurring, inorganic, solid element or compound, crystalline substance, definite atomic structure, chemical composition
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Crystal aggregates resembling long, slender needles, hair, or threadlike fibers
Crystal aggregates resembling long, slender needles, hair, or threadlike fibers
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How many minerals are estimated to exist in the Earth's crust?
How many minerals are estimated to exist in the Earth's crust?
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Minerals found in abundance in the Earth's crust, forming igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks
Minerals found in abundance in the Earth's crust, forming igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks
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Minerals of economic value with limited occurrences, formed by unusual processes
Minerals of economic value with limited occurrences, formed by unusual processes
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What are the major anion groups in mineral classification?
What are the major anion groups in mineral classification?
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What are the physical properties used to identify minerals?
What are the physical properties used to identify minerals?
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Study Notes
Mineralogy
- Scientific study of minerals, including structure, properties, processes, classification, and distribution, and uses.
Minerals
- Naturally occurring, inorganic, solid elements or compounds with crystalline structure and definite chemical composition.
- Over 4000 minerals exist in the Earth's crust.
- All minerals are composed of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium.
Classification and Mineral Groups
- Rock-forming minerals: found in abundance in the Earth's crust, forming igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks.
- Ore-forming minerals: of economic value, with limited mode of occurrence, formed by unusual processes.
- Mineral groups: anions, oxides, sulfides, sulfates, halides, carbonates, phosphates, silicates, and native minerals.
Physical Properties of Minerals
- Color: results from the interaction between light and minerals.
- Tenacity: behavior of minerals when deformed or broken.
- Sectility: minerals can be cut with a knife.
- Malleability: minerals can be pounded into thin sheets.
- Brittleness: minerals break or powder easily.
- Elasticity: minerals regain their former shape when pressure is released.
- Ductility: minerals can be drawn into a wire.
- Plasticity: minerals do not return to their original shape when released.
Crystallography and Crystalline Systems
- Crystallography: the science of crystal formation, properties, and structure.
- Mineral crystal system: also called mineral habits, refers to the way crystals form within a specific mineral.
- Crystal forms: internal atomic arrangement manifested outwardly by geometric shapes or crystal characters.
- Three types of crystal forms: crystallized, amorphous, and crystalline.
Symmetry and Lattices
- Symmetry: describes the repetition of structural features.
- Two general types of symmetry: translational and point symmetry.
- Lattices: directly related to translational symmetry, a network of single motifs repeated at fixed intervals.
- Bravais lattice: only 14 possible lattices in 3D space, divided into six crystal systems.
Crystal Systems
- All minerals form crystals in one of six crystal systems.
- Crystal systems are defined by a combination of three factors: structure, form, and habit.
- Seven types of crystal habits: prismatic, tabular, equant, plumose, bladed, foliated, and radiated.
Other Crystal Habits
- Fibrous, lamellar, reticulated, colloform, stellated, botryoidal, reniform, dendritic, mamillary, columnar, stalactitic, striated, micaceous, granular, acicular, massive, and filiform.
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Description
Explore the scientific study of minerals, including their structure, properties, processes, classification, distribution, and uses. Learn about the characteristics of minerals, their composition, and their occurrence in the Earth's crust.
