Lecture 2: Mineral Classification Flashcards
(27 cards)
Which element from the options listed below has a 2+ charge?
calcium
nitrogen
oxygen
sodium
Calcium
The formula of the mineral fluorite is CaF2. What is the charge on each of fluorine ions?
-1
Minerals are grouped into mineral classes based on the organization of their chemical formulas. Orthoclase has a formula of KAlSi3O8. Which element is the anion?
oxygen
The green mineral malachite is used for decorative purposes and jewelery. This mineral is a copper ___________.
carbonate
How does the formula of dolomite differ than that of calcite?
It includes magnesium
Salt can be mined and then it is called table salt, or it can be produced by evaporating salt water and then it is called sea salt. Regardless of how it is made, it has the same formula of NaCl. An even saltier (and rather bitter) halide is the mineral
sylvite
Saskatchewan is the world’s largest producer of
sylvite
Halite and fluorite are both
halides
What is the chemical formula of gypsum?
CaSO4
Which mineral is used for chalkboard chalk, moulds, and added to soil?
Gypsum
Sphalerite is an ore of
zinc
Chalopyrite is an ore of
copper
Galena is an ore of
lead
To make sulphuric acid, one mines plenty of ______.
pyrite
If you make a streak of this mineral, you might be surprised to see it has a reddish colour.
hematite
Native elements include sulphur, gold (think gold nuggets and flakes), copper (native copper), and this mineral that is pure carbon and used as a component in pencil lead.
graphite
Most of the minerals that make up the Earth’s crust are ____ minerals.
silicate
Some silicates are very hard and they are mined to use as abrasives. Quartz is one example and this translucent green mineral is another.
Olivine
The silica tetrahedron is the building block of silicate minerals. It consists of one silicon atom bonded to 4 oxygen atoms. What is the overall charge of a single silica tetrahedron? (Note that the plural form of tetrahedron is tetrahedra)
-4
In order to balance the charge, there needs to be either an addition of ___________ and/or a sharing of oxygen atoms.
cations
The independent tetrahedra silicate structure means that:
no oxygens are shared
Which is an example of a ferromagnesian silicate?
pyrite, olivine, muscovite, feldspar
olivine
Feldspar is a mineral group and each variety shares a similar hardness and cleavage. Feldspars break with ____ directions of cleavage at ___ degrees.
2 at 90 degrees
The feldspar species that contains sodium and/or calcium is called:
plagioclase feldspars
