geology chapter 3: minerals
biotite
"black mica"; an important magic silicate with silicon-oxygen tetrahedra arranged in sheets
dolomite
1. a minral composed of CaMg(CO3)2; 2. a sedimentary rock composed primarily of the mineral dolomite
ionic bond
a chemical bond formed by electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions
covalent bond
a chemical bond in which electrons are shared between different atoms so that none of the atoms has a net charge
metallic bond
a chemical bond in which shared electrons move feely among the atoms
stable
a condition in which a rock or mineral exists in equilibrium with its environment
plagioclase
a group of feldspar minerals with a composition range from NaAlSi3O8 to CaAl2Si2O8
clay mineral
a group of hydrous silicates formed by weathering of minerals such as feldspar, pyroxene, or amphibole; silicate tetrahedra are arranged in sheets
pyroxene
a group of rock-forming silicate minerals composed of single chains of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra
mica
a group of silicate mineral exhibiting perfect cleavage in one direction
calcite
a mineral composed of calcium carbonate
silicates
a mineral containing silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, in which four oxygen atoms surround each silicon atom
oxide mineral
a mineral lacking silicon, but containing oxygen bound to a metal (hematite, magnetite)
mafic mineral
a mineral or rock rich in iron and magnesium silicates such as olivine and pyroxene
mineral
a naturally occurring inorganic solid having a definite internal structure and a definite chemical composition that varies only within strict limits; chemical composition and internal structure determine its physical properties, including the tendency to issue a particular geometric form(crystal form)
electron
a negatively charged subatomic particle
magnetism
a physical phenomenon produced by the motion of electric charge that results in attractive and repulsive forces between objects
proton
a positively charge subatomic particle
crystal faces
a smooth plane formed by growth of the surface of a crystal
amorphous solid
a solid in which atoms or ions aren to arranged in a definite crystal structure; glass, amber, obsidian
crystal
a solid, polyhedral form bounded by naturally formed plane surfaces resulting from growth of a crystal lattice
neutron
a subatomic particle that has no electrical charge but a mass almost the same as a proton
compound
a substance made of two or more elements bound together
conchoidal fracture
a type of fracture that produces a smooth, curved surface; quartz or obsidian
feldspar
a unreal group consisting of silicates of aluminum and one or more of the metal potassium, sodium, or calcium.
The most abundant mineral group in Earth's crust is: a) feldspar b) mica c) olivine d) pyroxene e) quartz
a) feldspar
One of the most important factors in limiting ionic substitution in a mineral is: a) the size of the ions b) the color of the ions c) the shape of the ions d) the number of neutrons the ions have e) the weight of the ions
a) the size of the ions
ion
an atom of combination of atoms that has gained or lost one or more electron and thus has a net electrical charge
gypsum
an evaporite mineral composed of calcium sulfate with water
halite
an evaporite mineral composed of sodium chloride
amphibole
an important rock-forming mineral group of magic silicates; amphibole crystals are constructed from double chains or silicon-oxygen tetrahedra (ex. hornblende)
quartz
an important rock-forming silicate mineral composed of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra joined in a three dimensional network; distinguished by it's hardness, glassy luster, and conchoidal fracture
olivine
an important silicate mineral with magnesium and iron
metastable
an object or mineral that is not in equilibrium with its environment
color
an obvious, yet not diagnostic, property of a mineral
Most rock-forming minerals are: a) sulfides b) silicates c) oxides d) carbonates e) none of the above
b) silicates
Which of the following common minerals is most easily dissolved in water? a) feldspar b) copper c) calcite d) hematite e) quartz
c) calcite
Cleavage is most conspicuous in: a) quartz b) chert c) mica d) granite e) chalk
c) mica
Which list shows the typical order for INCREASING density of the common states of matter? a) gas is denser than liquid is denser than solid b) liquid is denser than solid is denser than gas c) solid is denser than liquid is denser than gas d) solid is denser than gas is denser than liquid e) gas is denser than solid is denser than liquid
c) solid is denser than liquid is denser than gas
Some of the physical properties of minerals are more diagnostic than others. a) density b) hardness c) cleavage d) color e) streak
d) color
Which of the following is NOT a felsic mineral? a) feldspar b) muscovite c) quartz d) olivine
d) olivine
Which of the following minerals has the greatest density? a) feldspar b) muscovite c) quartz d) olivine e) clay
d) olivine
The most abundant element in the Earth's crust is: a) sulfur b) calcium c) sodium d) silicon e) oxygen
e) oxygen
density
mass per unit volume, expressed in grams per cubic centimeter
isotope
one of the several forms of a chemical element that have the same number or protons in the nucleus but differ in the number of neutrons and this differ in atomic weight
muscovite
one of two types of mica, it is where or colorless and found along with felsic minerals
recrystallization
reorganization of elements of the original minerals in a rock resulting from changes in temp. and pressure and from the activity of pore fluids
polymorphism
the ability of a chemical compound to crystallize with more than one kind of crystal structure
luster
the appearance of the light reflected from a mineral surface, described, for example, as dull, glassy, or metallic
streak
the color of a powdered mineral
crystal form
the geometric shape of a crystal (cubic, prismatic)
felsic minerals
the minerals feldspar and quartz or an igneous or metamorphic rock made predominantly of feldspar and quartz
melt
the molten liquid part of magma, or, as a verb, to become liquified by heat
atomic number
the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom uniquely defines an element
crystal structure
the orderly arrangement of atoms in a crystal
crystallization
the process of crystal growth; occurs as a result of condensation from a gaseous state, precipitation from a solution, or cooling of a melt
x-ray diffraction
the process of identifying mineral structures by exposing crystals to a beam of x-rays and studying the resulting diffraction patterns
ionic substitution
the replacement of one kind of ion in a crystalline lattice by another kind that is of similar size and electrical charge
atom
the smallest unit of an element
stability range
the spectrum of conditions over which a mineral or rock body is in equilibrium with its environment
solid
the state of matter in which a substance has a definite shape and volume and some fundamental strength
gas
the state of matter in which a substance has neither independent shape nor independent volume; can be compressed and tend to expand indefinitely
liquid
the state of matter in which a substance slows freely and lacks crystal structure; unlike a gas a liquid retains the same volume independent of the shape of its container
silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
the structure of the ion SiO4-2, in which four oxygen atoms surround a silicon atom to form a four sided pyramid, or tetrahedron
atomic mass
the sum of the number of neutrons and protons
cleavage
the tendency of a mineral to break in a preferred plane in the crystal lattice
nucleus
tightly packed protons and neutrons in an atom