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GEO1008F > Minerals > Flashcards

Minerals Flashcards

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1
Q

What is mineralogy?

A

The study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals, including their occurrence and origins.

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2
Q

Define minerals.

A

Naturally occurring crystalline solids with definite (but not necessarily fixed) chemical compositions, generally formed by inorganic processes.

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3
Q

What does ‘naturally occurring’ mean in the context of minerals?

A

Made without human intervention or influence; made by Nature.

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4
Q

What are synthetic minerals?

A

Minerals made in a lab.

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5
Q

What are crystalline solids?

A

Solids with a regular, repeating internal structure of atoms or ions, highly ordered atomic arrangements, homogeneous, and solid.

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6
Q

What are amorphous materials?

A

Materials that lack crystalline structure, such as amber and opal.

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7
Q

What is a definite chemical composition in minerals?

A

Some minerals have fixed compositions, while others have compositions that vary between limits.

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8
Q

Give an example of a mineral with a fixed composition.

A

Quartz (SiO2).

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9
Q

What is a solid solution in minerals?

A

A mineral where elements can substitute for one another within the crystal structure.

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10
Q

What are some inorganic formation processes for minerals?

A
  • Precipitation or deposition from solution * Precipitation from a vapor * Magmatic crystallization.
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11
Q

What is biogenic mineral formation?

A

Minerals produced by biological processes, such as pyrite formed by bacterial reduction.

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12
Q

Is sugar a mineral?

A

No, sugar is always formed by organic processes and is considered a non-mineral.

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13
Q

What are cations?

A

Positively charged ions formed by the loss of an electron.

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14
Q

What are anions?

A

Negatively charged ions formed by the gain of an electron.

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15
Q

How do cations and anions differ in size?

A

Cations are smaller than their respective atoms, and anions are larger.

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16
Q

What is ionic bonding?

A

A bond where ions of opposite charge attract, resulting in a neutral compound.

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17
Q

List some common properties of minerals with ionic bonds.

A
  • Intermediate to high hardness * Moderate to low melting point * Low conductivity * Solubility in polar solvents.
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18
Q

What is covalent bonding?

A

A bond where electrons are shared between atoms, resulting in a stable structure.

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19
Q

What are the common properties of minerals with covalent bonds?

A
  • High hardness, brittle character * High melting point * Very low conductivity * Very low solubility.
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20
Q

What is metallic bonding?

A

A bond where outer shell electrons are shared among a lattice of metal atoms, forming a ‘sea’ of electrons.

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21
Q

What are the properties of minerals with metallic bonds?

A
  • High malleability and ductility * High conductivity * Low hardness * Low melting point.
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22
Q

What are van der Waals forces?

A

Weak bonds that link neutral molecules due to small residual charges on their surfaces.

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23
Q

List the four major types of bonding in minerals.

A
  • Ionic * Covalent * Metallic * Residual (van der Waals).
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24
Q

What are the major mineral classification families?

A
  • Silicates * Sulphides * Sulphates * Halides * Carbonates * Oxides * Hydroxides * Borates * Phosphates * Native Elements.
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25
What are silicates?
Minerals with the major anion group SiO4^4-, dominating the Earth's crust.
26
What are the two types of silicates based on composition?
* Mafic silicates (darker) * Felsic silicates (lighter).
27
What are sulphides?
Minerals comprising metals bonded to the sulphur anion (S2-), important sources of many metallic elements.
28
What are common physical properties of sulphates?
* Vitreous or pearly lustre * White streak * Relatively low hardness.
29
What defines halides?
Minerals in which the dominant anions are halogens.
30
What are the common properties of carbonates?
* Vitreous or pearly lustre * Relatively low hardness * Soluble in dilute HCl.
31
What are oxides?
Minerals comprising metals bonded to oxygen.
32
What are hydroxides?
Minerals comprising metals bonded to hydroxyl groups (OH).
33
What are native elements?
Minerals composed of a single element, such as copper and gold.
34
List the criteria for mineral identification.
* Colour * Lustre * Streak * Hardness * Specific Gravity/Density * Crystal Shape & Habit * Cleavage/parting/fracture * Magnetism * Taste, odour, touch, acid test.
35
Define density in relation to minerals.
Density (D) is the mass per unit volume expressed as g/cm3 or kg/m3.
36
What is specific gravity?
The ratio between the weight of a mineral and the weight of an equal volume of water at 3.98ºC.
37
What is the definition of density in minerals?
Density (D) of a mineral is the mass per unit volume expressed as g/cm3 or kg/m3 ## Footnote Specific gravity (G) is the ratio between the weight of a mineral and the weight of an equal volume of water at 3.98ºC
38
What is specific gravity (G) in relation to minerals?
Specific gravity (G) is unitless and varies with the chemical composition and structure of the mineral
39
How does atomic weight affect the specific gravity of minerals?
In minerals with the same structure, those containing elements with higher atomic weight will generally have higher G
40
What is the specific gravity of aragonite (CaCO3)?
G = 2.95
41
What is the specific gravity of cerrusite (PbCO3)?
G = 6.58
42
What can be said about the specific gravity of polymorphs under different pressures?
A polymorph crystallizing under high confining P will generally have higher G than its low pressure equivalent
43
What is the Mohs hardness scale?
A comparative scale of 10 common minerals used to determine the relative hardness of any mineral
44
What is the hardness of diamond on the Mohs scale?
Diamond is > 100,000x harder than corundum
45
Define tenacity in minerals.
Tenacity is the resistance a mineral offers to breaking, crushing, bending, or tearing
46
What are the different types of tenacity?
* Brittle: breaks easily * Malleable: can be hammered into sheets * Sectile: can be cut into shavings * Ductile: can be drawn into wire * Flexible: bends but does not return to shape * Elastic: bends and returns to shape
47
What is cleavage in minerals?
Cleavage is the tendency of some minerals to break smoothly parallel to particular planes of atoms in their crystal structure
48
What are the types of cleavage?
* Eminent: extreme ease of breaking * Perfect: easily broken * Distinct: fairly common * Imperfect: occasionally observed
49
What is the definition of fracture in minerals?
Fracture is the way a mineral breaks if it does not yield along a cleavage or parting surface
50
What are the varieties of fracture?
* Concoidal: smooth, curved * Fibrous or splintery: like broken wood * Hackly: jagged edges * Uneven or irregular: rough surfaces
51
What are striations in minerals?
Striations are linear grooves on some crystals caused by two narrow crystal faces forming a 'V'
52
What is the significance of color in minerals?
Color is usually the first property observed, but many minerals can vary in color
53
What are idiochromatic minerals?
Idiochromatic minerals have color directly related to one of the major constituents
54
Provide an example of an idiochromatic mineral.
Malachite: Cu2CO3(OH)2 always green
55
What are allochromatic minerals?
Allochromatic minerals have color due to trace amounts of strongly light-absorbing elements
56
What is pleochroism?
Pleochroism is when minerals show different colors in different crystallographic directions due to selective absorption of light
57
What does streak refer to in mineral identification?
The color of a finely powdered mineral, determined by scratching the mineral on unglazed porcelain
58
What is the streak of magnetite?
Black streak
59
What is luminescence in minerals?
Luminescence is any emission of light from a mineral that is not the direct result of incandescence
60
What are the types of luminescence?
* Fluorescent: luminesce only during exposure * Phosphorescent: continue to luminesce after exposure stops * Thermoluminescent: luminesce during heating * Triboluminescent: luminesce when crushed or scratched
61
What is lustre in minerals?
Lustre is the way light interacts with the surface of a mineral
62
What are the types of lustre?
* Metallic * Vitreous * Resinous * Silky * Dull
63
What is the definition of acid reactivity in minerals?
Distinctive fizz on calcite when exposed to acid
64
What is the term used to describe the general shape of a crystal?
Habit
65
What are the classifications of crystal habit?
* Euhedral: well-formed crystals * Subhedral: imperfect but recognizable form * Anhedral: no well-formed faces
66
What is a characteristic of euhedral crystals?
They have sharp, easily recognized faces
67
Provide an example of a rough rounded mineral.
Calcite (CaCO3)
68
Fill in the blank: The hardness of kyanite is ______ along the lath length.
5
69
Fill in the blank: The hardness of kyanite is ______ across the lath.
7
70
True or False: Diamonds are softer than native elements.
False
71
What is the specific gravity of gold (Au)?
G = 19.00
72
What is the significance of using a streak plate?
A streak plate has a hardness of 7 and cannot be used for harder minerals

GEO1008F (3 decks)

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