Earth Materials Summary Notes PDF

Earth Materials Summary Notes Earth materials 1. Minerals - these are solid inorganic materials that occurs naturally. It has a crystalline structure, define chemical composition and homogenous mixture 2. Rocks - Aggregates of inorganic materials such as minerals and mineral like substance...

Earth Materials Summary Notes Earth materials 1. Minerals - these are solid inorganic materials that occurs naturally. It has a crystalline structure, define chemical composition and homogenous mixture 2. Rocks - Aggregates of inorganic materials such as minerals and mineral like substances 3. Soil - a mixture of decayed organic compound and broken down rocks and minerals 4. Water - a molecule made up of hydrogen and oxygen; an essential element for life. 5. Energy Source - These are categorized into renewable (cannot be depleted) and non-renewable (can be depleted) Characteristics of Minerals 1. Solid 2. has crystalline structure 3. is inorganic 4. definable chemical composition 5. has a homogenous mixture 6. occurs naturally Formation of Minerals 1. solidification of a melt - freezing of a liquid substance 2. precipitation from a solution - atoms or ion bond in water and separate upon evaporation. 3. Solid-state Diffusion - Movement of atoms through a solid 4. Biomineralization - animals produce minerals to strengthen body tissues 5. Fumarolic Mineralization - Precipitation of minerals from volcanic gases under specific conditions Physical Properties of Minerals Crystal Form: External expression of atomic arrangement. Luster: Quality of light reflection (metallic vs. nonmetallic). Color: Often unreliable diagnostic property. Streak: Color in powdered form. Cleavage: Tendency to break along weak planes. Fracture: Breaking pattern of minerals (e.g., quartz). Specific Gravity: Weight ratio to an equal volume of water. Hardness: Resistance to abrasion or scratching. Metallic and Non-Metallic minerals Metallic 1. iron 2. nickel 3. copper 4. Gold 5. Silver 6. Chromium 7. Zinc 8. Mercury 9. Lead 10. Platinum Non-metallic 1. Silica 2. Clay 3. Marble Mineral Groups Silicates: Common in the Earth’s crust. Silicates contain silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) as their fundamental building block, often arranged in a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron (SiO₄), where one silicon atom is bonded to four oxygen atoms. Examples of Silicates: Quartz (SiO₂): Composed entirely of silicon and oxygen. Feldspar (e.g., KAlSi₃O₈): Common rock-forming minerals in the Earth's crust. Mica, Olivine, Pyroxene, and Amphibole: All belong to the silicate group. Non-silicates: Non-silicates do not contain silicon-oxygen tetrahedra. Instead, they are composed of other chemical elements, such as carbonates, sulfates, oxides, halides, and more. Examples of Non-Silicates: Carbonates (CO₃²⁻): Example: Calcite (CaCO₃), which is found in limestone. Sulfates (SO₄²⁻): Example: Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O), used in plaster and drywall.  Oxides (O²⁻): Example: Hematite (Fe₂O₃) and Magnetite (Fe₃O₄), both important iron ores. Halides: Example: Halite (NaCl), also known as rock salt. Sulfides (S²⁻): Example: Pyrite (FeS₂), known as fool's gold. Types of Rocks Igneous Formed from molten material; classified as intrusive (coarse) or extrusive (fine). Sedimentary Formed from sediment deposits; classified into clastic, chemical, and organic. Metamorphic Formed from existing rocks under high pressure/temperature; includes foliated and non-foliated types. Energy Resources Non-renewable Fossil Fuels: Formed from ancient organisms; include coal, oil, and natural gas. Types of Fossil fuels Coal: Solid fossil fuel, primary energy source for electricity. Oil: Liquid fossil fuel, refined for various uses. Natural Gas: Composed of methane; used for cooking and heating. Renewable Solar Energy: Converts sunlight into electricity. Wind Energy: Utilizes wind to generate electricity. Geothermal Energy: Uses heat from beneath the Earth's crust. Hydroelectric Energy: Utilizes water flow to generate electricity. Biomass: Derived from organic materials; used for fuel and electricity.  Nuclear Energy: Produced from nuclear fission, generating electricity.