Chapter 3

Question 1

mineral

Answer 1

naturally occurring homogeneous solid solid formed by geologic processes with an ordered internal arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules, and a composition definable by a chemical formula. Some believe it must be inorganic (not produced by an animal or plant)

Question 2

Naturally occuring

Answer 2

a mineral forms by natural Earth processes (not human made)

Question 3

Homogeneous

Answer 3

a piece of a mineral contains the same pure mineral throughout

Question 4

Formed by geologic processes

Answer 4

traditionally implied processes such as solidification or precipitation which do not involve living organisms.

Question 5

Solid

Answer 5

minerals maintain their shape indefinitely under normal conditions. Therefore, liquids like oil and water and gases like air and propane cannot be minerals

Question 6

ordered internal arrangement of atoms

Answer 6

important characteristic that separates minerals from substances that may fit all other parts of the definition.

Question 7

crystalline structue

Answer 7

atoms in minerals occupy this position in a grid

Question 8

glasses

Answer 8

solids in which atoms occur in random clusters than in a crystalline structure

Question 9

Definable chemical composition

Answer 9

elements present in a mineral and the proportions of their atoms can be expressed by a simple formula

Question 10

Crystal

Answer 10

when a mineral grows without interference from other minerals, it develops smooth flat surfaces and a symmetrical geometric shape

Question 11

grain

Answer 11

irregular or fragmented piece of mineral

Question 12

specimen

Answer 12

single piece of mineral either crystal or grain

Question 13

rock

Answer 13

coherent, naturally occurring, inorganic solid consisting of an aggregate of mineral grains, pieces of older rocks, or a mass of natural glass.

Question 14

physical properties

Answer 14

how it looks (color and luster), breaks, feels, smells, and even tastes

Question 15

diagnostic properties

Answer 15

they help immediately identify an unknown mineral or rule it out as a possibility

Question 16

ambiguous properties

Answer 16

may vary in different specimens of the same mineral.

ex: color is a notoriously ambiguous property in many minerals; size doesn’t really matter either

Question 17

Luster

Answer 17

the way light interacts with its surface

Diagnostic property

Question 18

metallic luster

Answer 18

shiny and opaque like an untarnished piece of metal

Question 19

nonmetallic luster

Answer 19

look earthy (dull and powdery like dirt), glassy, waxy, silky, or pearly

Question 20

Color

Answer 20

different wavelengths absorbed or reflected by the minerals atoms
diagnostic property for metallic minerals

Question 21

Streak

Answer 21

color of its powder

determine by rubbing mineral against an unglazed porcelain plate

Question 22

Hardness

Answer 22

measure of how easily it can scratch or be scratched by other surfaces
Mohs hardness scale

Question 23

relative scale

Answer 23

a mineral can scratch those lower in the scale but cannot scratch those that are higher

Question 24

Crystal habit

Answer 24

preferred crystal shape that forms when it grows unimpeded by other grains
Crystal growth requires very specific conditions

Question 25

breakage

Answer 25

the way a mineral breaks is controlled by the zones of weak bonds in its structure

Question 26

Fracture

Answer 26

occurs when there are no zones of particularly weak bonding within a mineral

Question 27

Cleavage

Answer 27

occurs when bonds holding atoms together are weaker in some directions that others

Question 28

Specific gravity

Answer 28

SpG | comparison of its density with the density of water

Question 29

Magnetism

Answer 29

diagnostic property because so few minerals are magnetic

Question 30

Feel

Answer 30

greasy r slippery because their chemical bonds are so weak

Question 31

Taste

Answer 31

chemical property

Question 32

Odor

Answer 32

some minerals and their streaks have specific odors

Question 33

Reaction with Dilute Hydrochloric Acid

Answer 33

Many minerals that contain carbonate anion fizz when the come in contact with that acidq

Question 34

Tenacity

Answer 34

the way materials respond to being pushed, pulled, bent, or sheared. (malleable, brittle, ductile, flexible, elastic)

Question 35

Ore minerals

Answer 35

containing metals that can be separated from the rest of the elements in the mineral usually by melting