Chapter Three- Geology

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How can you ID a mineral?

- color -luster -crystal structure -streak -hardness -specific gravity -chemical composition

Silicate minerals

- most common minerals on earth -the silicon oxygen tetrahedron is the fundamental building block of silicate minerals

What is the relationship between the way in which silicon-oxygen tetrahedral bond in micas and the characteristic cleavage of micas?

-Silicon- oxygen tetrahedral bond in micas is parallel -Mica has one strong plane of cleavage and easily splits into sheets

How are minerals formed?

-solidification of a melt -precipitation from gas or water -diffusion -metabolism of organisms *SMDP

Streak

color of powder it makes

How can you determine the hardness of a mineral?

You can determine the hardness of a mineral by measuring its resistance to scratching as compared to the Mohs Hardness Scale.

Specific gravity

density

How are gemstones faceted?

grinding and polishing the stones with a faceting machine

Luster

the way a surface scatters light

Why is glass not a mineral?

Glass is not a mineral because it's atoms are arranged in a non-orderly pattern (it doesn't have a crystalline structure)

Cleavage

How a mineral breaks along preferred planes

What is a mineral?

A mineral is a naturally occurring solid that is homogenous and inorganic. It's atoms are aligned in a crystalline structure in an orderly pattern.

Can you crush a diamond with calcite?

No, you must use tools with diamond tips

What is the Mohs Hardness scale?

The Mohs Hardness Scale says that minerals with hardness of 5 & above can scratch all minerals with hardness of 5 & less. Diamond= 10; Quartz= 7; Gypsum=2


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