Lecture 3 - Meteorites and Minerals

Question 1

Mineral

Answer 1

Naturally occurring, inorganic solid which has a definite chemical composition and ordered internal structure

Question 2

Meteorite

Answer 2

Fragment of meteoroid/asteroid that survives passage through the atmosphere and hits the ground
3 categories = stony (chondrites - grade 3-6), iron, stony-iron

Question 3

What are the Eras of Earths mineral evolution?

Answer 3

Planetary accretion, crust and mantle reworking, and biologically mediated era

Question 4

What are the 6 stages of star formation?

Answer 4

Dark cloud, gravitational collapse, proto-star, T Tauri star (disk), pre main sequence star, young stellar system

Question 5

Name three mineral formation processes in terms of Earth evolution?

Answer 5

Condensation in solar nebula, condensation in gaseous envelopes around stars and shock metamorphism

Question 6

What are some of the most important minerals for life formation and why?

Answer 6

Clays and transition metal sulphides. Several scenarios for life rely on minerals as templates, catalysts and/or metabolites.