Ch 7. Minerals and Rocks

Question 1

What is a mineral ?

Answer 1

Mineral is an inorganic element naturally occuring with an ordered atomic structure, definite chemical composition and physical properties

Question 2

What is the study of minerals called ?

Answer 2

Mineralogy

Question 3

What are six major mineral groups ?

Answer 3

Feldspar, Quartz, Pyroxene, Amphibole, Mica and Olivine

Question 4

What are some examples of organic minerals ?

Answer 4

Natural gas, petroleum and coal

Question 5

What are the major elements of the Earth’s crust by weight ?

Answer 5

Oxygen, Silicon, Aluminium, Iron, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium and Magnesium (in decreasing order)

Question 6

What is a cleavage in minerals?

Answer 6

The tendency of a mineral to break in specific directions to create relatively flat surfaces

Question 7

What is a fracture in minerals ?

Answer 7

The crystal can split in an irregular way, not along cleavage planes

Question 8

What is lustre in minerals ?

Answer 8

Appearance of a material regardless of color ex: metallic, silky, glossy, etc

Question 9

What is a streak in minerals ?

Answer 9

The color of a mineral’s powder

Question 10

What is a sclerometer ?

Answer 10

It measures the absolute hardness of minerals.

Question 11

Which ten minerals are used to measure the degree of hardness ?

Answer 11

Talc, Gypsum, Calcite, Fluorite, Apatite, Fledspar, Quartz, Topaz, Corundum and Diamond

Question 12

Which major elements are found in Feldspar ?

Answer 12

Silicon and Oxygen

Question 13

What are the common uses of Feldspar ?

Answer 13

Glass making and Ceramics

Question 14

What are the major elements of Olivine ?

Answer 14

Magnesium, Iron and Silica (MIS)

Question 15

What is the major source of Olivine

Answer 15

Mafic Igneous rock

Question 16

What is the common use of Olivine ?

Answer 16

Most commonly used in jewellery

Question 17

Quartz is mainly found in ?

Answer 17

Granite and Sand

Question 18

What is the major element of Quartz ?

Answer 18

Silica

Question 19

What are the main uses of Quartz ?

Answer 19

Mainly used in the manufacturing of radio, radar, etc

Question 20

Which elements are found in Pyroxene ?

Answer 20

Aluminium, Calcium, Magnesium, Silicon and Iron (MACIS)

Question 21

Which mineral is commonly found in meteorites ?

Answer 21

Pyroxene

Question 22

Which major elements are found in Amphibole ?

Answer 22

Magnesium, Aluminium, Calcium, Iron and Silicon (MACIS)

Question 23

What is the common use of Amphibole ?

Answer 23

Commonly used in the Asbestos industries

Question 24

What is Hornblende ?

Answer 24

Another form of Amphiboles

Question 25

Which elements constitute Mica ?

Answer 25

Magnesium, Aluminium, Potassium, Iron and Silicon

Question 26

Mica is widely used in ?

Answer 26

Electronic instruments

Question 27

What are different types of minerals ?

Answer 27

Metallic minerals - Ferrous, Non ferrous, Precious Non metallic minerals Energy minerals

Question 28

What is a rock ?

Answer 28

A rock is an aggregate or physical mixture of many minerals

Question 29

Name the common minerals that are found in many rocks

Answer 29

Quartz and Feldspar

Question 30

What is Petrology ?

Answer 30

Study of rocks

Question 31

What are the different types of rocks based on the mode of formation ?

Answer 31

Igneous rocks, Sedimentary rocks, Metamorphic rocks

Question 32

How are Igneous rocks formed ?

Answer 32

The cooling of extremely fluid and hot liquid magma forms Igneous rocks

Question 33

What type of rocks are also called as Primary rocks ?

Answer 33

Igneous rocks

Question 34

What are Intrusive Igneous rocks ?

Answer 34

These are formed when magma cools and solidifies below the earth's surface

Question 35

What are Plutonic rocks ?

Answer 35

Deep seated intrusive igneous rocks are called Plutonic rocks

Question 36

What are Hypabyssal rocks ? Give some examples

Answer 36

Shallow depth intrusive igneous rocks are called Hypabyssal rocks. Ex: Granite, Dolerite

Question 37

What are Extrusive Igneous rocks ? Give two examples

Answer 37

These are formed on the earth's surface by the cooling of the lava. Ex: Bassalt, Gabbro

Question 38

What type of rocks are called as Volcanic rocks ?

Answer 38

Extrusive igneous rocks

Question 39

What is Lithification ?

Answer 39

The process of successive deposition and formation of sedimentary rocks

Question 40

Which rocks are called as Stratified rocks ?

Answer 40

Sedimentary rocks

Question 41

What are the different types of sedimentary rocks (based on mode of formation) ?

Answer 41

1. Mechanically formed / Classic sedimentary rocks 2. Organically / Biologically formed sedimentary rocks 3. Chemically formed sedimentary rocks

Question 42

Give few examples of mechanically formed sedimentary rocks

Answer 42

Conglomerate, Braccia, Sandstone and Shale

Question 43

Name few organically formed sedimentary rocks

Answer 43

Coal, limestone, chalk and chert

Question 44

Mention few chemically formed sedimentary rocks

Answer 44

Halite, Potash and Limestone

Question 45

How are metamorphic rocks formed ?

Answer 45

They are formed under the action of temperature, volume changes and pressure on original form of rocks. It is the process of recrystallization and reorganisation of materials within the original rocks

Question 46

What is Dynamic metamorphism ?

Answer 46

When metamorphism occurs without any major chemical alterations, it is referred to as dynamic metamorphism

Question 47

What is Thermal metamorphism ?

Answer 47

If the impact of heat induces metamorphism, it is referred to as Thermal metamorphism

Question 48

What is Contact metamorphism ?

Answer 48

If the reorganisation of a rock happens when it comes in direct contact with the hot magma, it is called as contact metamorphism

Question 49

What is Regional metamorphism ?

Answer 49

If the rocks are metamorphosed due to tremendous heat or pressure and formed due to tectonic shearing, it is called as regional metamorphism

Question 50

What are Foliated and Non-Foliated metamorphic rocks ?

Answer 50

On the basis of presence or absence of bands of mineral grains metamorphic rocks can be classified into Foliated and Non-Foliated metamorphic rocks

Question 51

Give some examples of Foliated and Non-Foliated metamorphic rocks ?

Answer 51

Foliated - Gneiss, Slate, Schist Non-Foliated - Marble, Quarzite

Question 52

What is a Rock Cycle ?

Answer 52

Rocks do not remain in their original form for a long time, but can undergo transformation. This continuous process by which old rocks are turned into new ones is called Rock Cycle