Minerals Flashcards

1
Q

What is a mineral?

A
  • Naturally occurring
  • Inorganic (no C-H bonds)
  • Solid
  • Ordered atomic arrangement (ie. crystalline)
  • Specific chemical formula
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Minerals are known as

A

The building blocks of life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ionic Bonding is present in:

A
  • oxides
  • sulphates
  • carbonates
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Covalent Bonding is found in:

A
  • native copper
  • silver
  • gold
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

crystal growth is inhibited by:

A

lack of:

  • space
  • time
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Glass vs Crystal

A

Crystal: ordered structure
Glass: disordered structure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Diamond

A

Mineral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Graphite

A

mineral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

polymorphs

A

same chemical composition, different crystal structures.

ie. diamond and graphite

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

sugar

A

non-mineral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

coal

A

non-mineral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

volcanic glass

A

non-mineral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

shell

A

mineral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

teeth and bone (apatite)

A

mineral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Covalent/metallic bonds

A

electron sharing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

ionic bonds

A

electron transfer

17
Q

True/False: beautiful crystals occur naturally?

A

False. More often, crystals nucleate and grow quickly, bumping into one another in the process. (Grains).

18
Q

Glass

A
  • Occurs when crystals don’t have time to nucleate

- Develop when cooling occurs rapidly

19
Q

Silicates form ___% of rock-forming minerals (crust)

A

92%

20
Q

Key characteristic of silicates

A

Silicon tetrahedron backbone

21
Q

Types of silicates

A
  • Isolated tetrahedra (olivine (8%))
  • Single chain (pyroxene (11%))
  • Double chain (amphibole (5%))
  • Sheets (mica (5%))
  • Framework (feldspar (51%); quartz(12%))
22
Q

Non-silicates make up ___% of the crust

A

8%

23
Q

Non-silicates

A
  • carbonates
  • oxide minerals
  • sulphate minerals
  • halide minerals
24
Q

Physical properties of minerals

A
  • Hardness
  • Cleavage
  • Luster
  • Colour
  • Density
  • Crystal habit
25
Q

Hardness

A

How difficult a mineral is to scratch

26
Q

Cleavage

A
  • How a mineral breaks apart (smooth or jagged/wavy)

- indicates planes of internal heterogeneities

27
Q

Luster

A

metallic or non-metallic

28
Q

Colour

A

Note: impurities can affect colour, so on its own, colour is not a reliable way to classify

29
Q

Crystal habit

A

Description of the crystal’s general shape

30
Q

Mineral diversity spiked following what historic event?

A

The Great Oxidation Event

31
Q

nearly 1/2 of the minerals present in the crust arose due to _____ and _____ of other, pre-existing minerals in an oxidized environment
Example?

A

a) oxidation
b)hydrolysis (weathering)
Example: rust –> oxidation of iron