Chapter 3 Review Questions
Hos can you determine the hardness of a mineral? What is Mohs hardness scale
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How do you distinguish cleavage surfaces from crystal faces on a mineral? How does each type of surface form?
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What is the prime characteristics that geologists use to separate minerals into classes?
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Why are some minerals considered gemstones? How do you make the facets on a gem?
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Why do some minerals occur as euhedral crystals, where as others occur as anhedral grains?
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Why is glass not a mineral?
Because a mineral is a crystalline and glass is not.
Describe several ways that mineral crystals can form
1. They can form by the solidification of a melt, meaning the freezing of a liquid to form a solid EX. ice crystals or the solidification of molten rock 2. They can form from precipitation from a solution, meaning ions, atoms or molecules that dissolve in water bond together and separate out of water EX. salt crystals 3. They can form from solid state diffusion, the movement of atoms or ions through a solid to arrange into a new crystal structure. EX. garnets grow by diffusion of rocks. 4. They can form at interfaces between the physical and biological components of the Earth system by a process called biomineralization. Occurs when living organisms cause minerals to precipitate either within or on their bodies, or immediately adjacent to their bodies, EX. clams and other shelled organisms extract ions from the water to produce mineral shells. 5. minerals can precipitate directly from gas. Occurs around volcanic vents or geysers