MInerals Flashcards
(36 cards)
What is a mineral?
Naturally occurring, inorganic, homogenous solid with definite chemical composition, and an ordered crystalline structure.
What are the characteristics of mineral?(5)
Now I Can Define Minerals.
Natural, Inorganic, Crystalline (atoms are arranged in an orderly pattern), Definite chemical composition, Solid.
SiO2 is chemical formula of?
Quartz.
What are the physical properties of minerals?(4)
Color, Streak, Luster, Crystal Habit
It refers to certain wavelengths of light that are reflected by a mineral and is perceived by the observer.
Color.
-Color is not very reliable bc lots of minerals can occur in many colors.
What is the streak of a mineral?
Color of the powdered form of a mineral. True color. Color of the mineral’s powder.
Types of colors of minerals?
Idiochromatic minerals, allochromatic, pseudochromatic.
Idiochromatic minerals are?
self-colored minerals. Their color is a diagnostic property. The color of the mineral is constant and depends on the elements that make up their chemical structure. Strong colors.
Examples of Idiochromatic minerals.
Malachite(green), rhodochrosite(red), sulfur(yellow)
Types of minerals where their color is not a reliable diagnostic property since impurities may alter their color. These minerals are often weakly colored or colorless in their pure state.
Allochromatic minerals.
ex. colorless, milky, smoky, citrine, amethyst, and rose.
False-colored minerals. Colors due to light diffraction
Pseudochromatic minerals.
Minerals with a hardness greater than __ usually don’t create a streak because they’re harder than the porcelain tile(unless specially made).
7.
What is the Luster of a mineral?
Appearance of a mineral’s surface and is dependent on how it reflects light. How light shines off a mineral.
Luster of a mineral can be?(2)
Metallic or Non-metallic.
Types of luster. (8)
pearly - pearl or shell interior silky - similar to silk with fine parallel threads dull - plain-looking sheen resinous - same with resin or chewing gum earthy - opaque and looks like dirt adamantine - shiny and brilliant vitreous/glassy - sheen like glass metallic - polished metal
Characteristic shape in which a mineral grows and is a projection of the mineral’s crystal structure.
Crystal habit.
Tendency of minerals to break along flat surfaces. Splits along planes.
Cleavage.
What is the fracture of a mineral?
Pattern in which the mineral breaks aside from its planes of cleavage. Irregularly jagged lines.
___ is the resistance of minerals to scratching.
Hardness.
What is the specific gravity of a mineral?
The ratio of a mineral’s weight to the weight of an equal volume of water.
What are the special properties of minerals?
Magnetism, Double refraction, fluorescence, phosphorescence, piezoelectric.
Property of being attracted to a magnet. The mineral contains iron, cobalt or nickel.
Magnetism.
What is the double refraction property?
You can see a double while looking through it. Ex. Calcite.
The property that makes the minerals grow under ultraviolet light.
Fluorescence.
