Chapter 3: Earth Materials: Minerals and Rocks

Question 1

anion

Answer 1

A negatively charged ion.

Question 2

atom

Answer 2

The smallest unit of an element that retains the element’s physical and chemical properties.

Question 3

atomic mass

Answer 3

The sum of an atom’s protons and neutrons

Question 4

atomic number

Answer 4

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom (or number of electrons).

Question 5

bedding

Answer 5

The formation of parallel layers of sediment as particles settle to the bottom of the sea, a river, or a land surface

Question 6

cation

Answer 6

A positively charged ion.

Question 7

chemical and biochemical sediments

Answer 7

New chemical substances that form by precipitation when some of a rock�s components dissolve during weathering and are carried in river waters to the sea.

Question 8

chemical reaction

Answer 8

The interaction of the atoms of two or more chemical elements in certain fixed proportions that produces a new chemical substance.

Question 9

cleavage

Answer 9

(1) The tendency of a crystal to break along flat planar surfaces. (2) The geometric pattern produced by such breakage.

Described by the number of planes (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, etc)

Question 10

color

Answer 10

A property of a mineral imparted by transmitted or reflected light. Either transmitted through or reflected by crystals, irregular masses, or a streak.

Most noticeable, least useful property

Question 11

contact metamorphism

Answer 11

Metamorphism resulting from heat and pressure in a small area, as in rocks in contact with and near an igneous intrusion. Changes in the mineralogy and texture of rock resulting from the heat and pressure in a small area, such as the rocks near and in contact with an igneous intrusion.

Question 12

covalent bond

Answer 12

A bond between atoms in which the outer electrons are shared.

Question 13

crystal

Answer 13

An ordered three-dimensional array of atoms in which the basic arrangement is repeated in all directions.

Question 14

crystal habit

Answer 14

The shape in which a mineral�s individual crystals or aggregates of crystals grow.

Most common are cubic or hexagonal

Question 15

crystallization

Answer 15

The growth of a solid from a gas or liquid whose constituent atoms come together in the proper chemical proportions and ordered three-dimensional arrangement.

Question 16

density

Answer 16

The mass per unit volume of a substance, commonly expressed in grams per cubic centimeter. (Compare specific gravity.)

Question 17

electron

Answer 17

A negatively charged particle that moves around the nucleus of an atom.

Question 18

electron sharing

Answer 18

The mechanism by which a covalent bond is formed between the elements in a chemical reaction.

Question 19

electron transfer

Answer 19

The mechanism by which an ionic bond is formed between the elements in a chemical reaction.

Question 20

erosion

Answer 20

The set of processes that loosen soil and rock and move them downhill or downstream, where they are deposited as layers of sediment.

Question 21

extrusive igneous rock

Answer 21

A fine-grained or glassy igneous rock formed from a rapidly cooled magma that erupts at the surface through a volcano.

Question 22

foliation

Answer 22

A set of flat or wavy parallel planes produced by deformation.

Question 23

fracture

Answer 23

The tendency of a crystal to break along irregular surfaces other than cleavage planes. (cleavage = 0)

Question 24

hardness

Answer 24

A measure of the ease with which the surface of a mineral can be scratched.

Question 25

hydrothermal solution

Answer 25

A hot water solution formed when circulating groundwater or seawater comes into contact with a hot magmatic intrusion, reacts with it, and carries off significant quantities of elements and ions released by the reaction, which may be deposited later as ore minerals.

Question 26

igneous rock

Answer 26

A rock formed by the solidification of a magma, before or after it reaches the surface.(From the Latin ignis, meaning "fire.")

Question 27

intrusive igneous rock

Answer 27

A coarse-grained igneous rock that crystallized slowly when magma intruded into country rock deep in Earth�s crust.

Question 28

ionic bond

Answer 28

A bond formed by electrostatic attraction between ions of opposite charge when electrons are transferred. (Compare covalent bond.)

Question 29

isotope

Answer 29

One of two or more forms of atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons and therefore different atomic masses.

Question 30

lithification

Answer 30

The conversion of sediment into solid rock by compaction and cementation.

Question 31

luster

Answer 31

The way in which the surface of a mineral reflects light to produce the shine of its surface, described by such subjective terms non-metallic (such as dull, glassy) or metallic.

Question 32

metallic bond

Answer 32

A type of covalent bond in which freely mobile electrons are shared and dispersed among ions of metallic elements, which have the tendency to lose electrons and pack together as cations.

Question 33

metamorphic rock

Answer 33

A rock formed by the transformation of preexisting solid rocks under the influence of high pressure and temperature.

Question 34

mineral

Answer 34

A naturally occurring, solid crystalline substance, generally inorganic, with a specific chemical composition.

Question 35

mineralogy

Answer 35

(1) The branch of geology that studies the composition, structure, appearance, stability, occurrence, and associations of minerals. (2) The relative proportions of a rock�s constituent minerals.

Question 36

Mohs scale of hardness (defn)

Answer 36

An empirical, ascending scale of mineral hardness based on the ability of one mineral to scratch another.

Question 37

neutron

Answer 37

An electrically neutral elementary particle in the nucleus of an atom, having an atomic mass of 1.

Question 38

nucleus

Answer 38

The center of an atom, comprising protons and neutrons and containing virtually all the mass of the atom.

Question 39

ore

Answer 39

A mineral deposit from which valuable metals can be recovered profitably.

Question 40

polymorph

Answer 40

One of two or more alternative possible crystal structures for a single chemical compound

Question 41

precipitate

Answer 41

(1) (verb) To drop out of a saturated solution as crystals. (2) (noun) The crystals that drop out of a saturated solution.

Question 42

proton

Answer 42

An elementary particle in the nucleus of an atom, having an atomic mass of 1 and a positive electrical charge of +1.

Question 43

regional metamorphism

Answer 43

Metamorphism caused by high pressures and temperatures that extend over large regions, as happens where plates collide.

Question 44

rock

Answer 44

A naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or, in some cases, nonmineral solid matter.

Question 45

rock cycle

Answer 45

The set of geologic processes that convert each type of rock into the other two types.

Question 46

sediment

Answer 46

A material deposited at Earth�s surface by physical agents (wind, water, and ice), chemical agents (precipitation from oceans, lakes, and rivers), or biological agents (organisms, living and dead).

Question 47

sedimentary rock

Answer 47

A rock formed as the burial product of layers of sediments (such as sand, mud, and calcium carbonate shells), whether they were laid down on the land or under the sea.

Question 48

siliciclastic sediment

Answer 48

Clastic sediment produced by the weathering of rocks composed largely of silicate minerals.

Question 49

specific gravity

Answer 49

The weight of a mineral in air divided by the weight of an equal volume of pure water at 4°C.

Question 50

streak

Answer 50

The color of the fine deposit of mineral dust left on an abrasive surface, such as a tile of unglazed porcelain, when a mineral is scraped across it. Most give a white streak

Question 51

texture

Answer 51

The sizes and shapes of a rock�s mineral crystals and the way they are put together.

Question 52

vein

Answer 52

A sheetlike deposit of minerals precipitated in fractures or joints that are foreign to the host rock.

Question 53

weathering

Answer 53

The general process that breaks up rocks into fragments of various sizes by a combination of physical fracturing and chemical decomposition.

Question 54

magma

Answer 54

Hot, molten rock

Question 55

oxides

Answer 55

A class of minerals that are compounds of the oxygen anion (O²-) and metallic cations

Question 56

silicate

Answer 56

The most abundant class of minerals in Earth's crust, composed of oxygen (O) and silicon (Si), mostly in combination with cations of other elements

Question 57

sulfate

Answer 57

A class of minerals that are compounds of the sulfate anion (SO4²-) and metallic cations

Question 58

sulfide

Answer 58

A class of minerals that are compounds of the sulfide anion (S²-) and metallic cations

Question 59

trace element

Answer 59

An element that makes up less than 01 percent of a mineral

Question 60

carbonate

Answer 60

A class of minerals composed of carbon and oxygen-in the form of the carbonate anion (CO3²-)-in combination with calcium and magnesium

Question 61

ion

Answer 61

An atom or group of atoms that has an electrical charge, either positive or negative, because of the loss or gain of one or more electrons

Question 62

disseminated deposit

Answer 62

A deposit of ore minerals that is scattered through volumes of rock much larger than a vein

Question 63

grain

Answer 63

A crystalline particle of a mineral.

Question 64

chemical sediment

Answer 64

A sediment formed at or near its place of deposition from dissolved materials that precipitate from water. (Compare biological sediment.)

Question 65

biological sediment

Answer 65

A sediment formed near its place of deposition as a result of direct or indirect mineral precipitation by organisms. (Compare chemical sediment.)

Question 66

striations

Answer 66

Grooves or ridges across the surface of a rock

Question 67

Examples of non-minerals

Answer 67

* Synthetics * Liquids or gasses * Glass * Coal

Question 68

4 types of chemical bonds

Answer 68

* Ionic * Covalent * Metallic * Van Der Waals

Question 69

zoning

Answer 69

layers of mineral build with temperature changes and changing composition (such as from 100% calcium -> 90% sodium)

Question 70

conchoidal fracture

Answer 70

when a mineral fractures like glass (like the scoop shape of broken glass)

Question 71

8 most common physical properties of minerals

Answer 71

* hardness * cleavage * luster * color * streak * specific gravity/density * fracture * crystal habit

Question 72

lesser common physical properties of minerals

Answer 72

* effervescence * magnetism * florescence * biorefraction

Question 73

2 most common minerals in Earth's crust

Answer 73

oxygen and silicon

Question 74

2 most common elements in the universe

Answer 74

hydrogen and helium

Question 75

aphanetic

Answer 75

* Igneous rock texture | * Fine texture

Question 76

phaneritic

Answer 76

* Igneous rock texture | * Coarse-grained texture

Question 77

glassy

Answer 77

* Igneous rock texture | * Just glass - no minerals

Question 78

porphyoblastic

Answer 78

* Igneous rock texture * Large crystals in fine-grained mass (also called "porphry" for short)

Question 79

pegmatitic

Answer 79

* Igneous rock texture | * Huge crystals (bigger than thumb)

Question 80

of elements that occur naturally in rocks and minerals

Answer 80

88

Question 81

Van Der Waals force

Answer 81

A weak attractive force between atoms or non-polar molecules caused by a temporary change in dipole moment arising from a brief shift of orbital electrons to one side of one atom or molecule, creating a similar shift in adjacent atoms or molecules.