Physical property of minerals Flashcards by Celine Tatco

Effect produced by combination of wavelength of light incident on the surface of the mineral reaching the observer’s eyes

Color

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A play of color or colored reflections exhibited especially by labradorite and cause by internal structures that selectively reflect only certain colors.

Labradorescence (schiller effect)

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Optical phenomenon that defines the gem known as moonstone. It is a soft glow of light that floats under the surface of a polished gemstone or under the smooth surface of a gem material.

Adularescence

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observed in some semi-translucent to transparent feldspar minerals and is caused by light entering the material and reflecting from molecular interferences within the stone.

Adularescence

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Unique optical property on a certain minerals where they change color upon exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet light.

Photochromism/ Tenebrescence

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Best example for Tenebrescence

Hackmanite

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Transition elements

Chromophores

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These are the Transition elements

V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni. Cu

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exhibits internally various prismatic colors when the mineral is turned.

Play of colors

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Appearance of different colors when a crystal is viewed in transmitted light in different directions.

Pleochroism

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Two direction has distinct colors

Dichroism

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Pearly reflection from the interior of a mineral

Opalescence

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Shows a series of colors due to light undergoing reflective interference with itself either on the surface or the interior.

Iridescence

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Band of light moves from side to side as in a cat’s eye

Chatoyancy

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Six pointed star, formed by a beam of light at right angles at each set of inclusions.

Asterism

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Mineral emits visible light when exposed to UV light

Fluorescence

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Some fluorescent minerals will continue to glow after the UV light has turned off

Phosphorescence

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Some minerals when heated below red hear will emit visible light

Thermoluminescence

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When rub it struck with a hammer, minerals will emit visible light.

Triboluminescence

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Color of the powdered form of a mineral

Streak

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A marked tendency to break or split easily in certain well-defined directions yielding more or less smooth surfaces which are parallel to the crystal surfaces or possible crystal system

Cleavage

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3 cleavages, 6 faces at right angles

Cubic

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4 cleavages, 8 faces

Octahedral

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Example for cubic cleavage

Halite

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Example for octahedral cleavage

Fluorite

6 cleavages 12 faces

Dodecahedral

Example of dodecahedral cleavage

Sphalerite

3 cleavages, 6 6 faces not at right angle

Rhombohedral

Example for rhombohedral cleavage

Calcite and dolomite

2 cleavages, 4 faces of many possible angles

Prismatic

2 angle type in prismatic cleavage

90/90 & 60/120

Example (s) for prismatic cleavage

Amphibole, pyroxene, feldspar

1 cleavage, 2 faces

Basal

Example of basal cleavage

Biotite, Muscovite, chlorite

A plane of structural weakness in a mineral

Parting

How is parting different from cleavage?

1. It cannot be found in every specimen. 2. Not absolutely repeatable/reproducible. 3. Caused by pressure

The appearance of the surface of a mineral when it does not break along cleavage planes.

Fracture

Type of fracture where the surface is not interrupted by many noticable protuberances but with few small scales

Scaly fracture

Type of fracture where the surface has no protuberances or very few indeterminate and mostly flat ones.

Even fracture

Type of fracture where the surface consists of flat rounded protuberances accompanied by circular grooves as in clam shells

Conchoidal fracture

Type of fracture where the surface is entirely interrupted by angular large and small protuberances

Uneven fracture

Type of fracture where if certain large parts resembling fibers can be distinguished on the surface as in wood

Fibrous fracture

Type of fracture where the surface is jagged and with sharp edges

Hackly

Type of fracture where the surface is made up of parts resembling planes with length and breadth nearly equal

Foliated fracture

Resistance that the surface of a mineral offers from scratching

Hardness

A number express the ratio between the weight of the mineral and the weight of an equal volume of water at 4 degrees Celsius.

Specific Gravity

Formula for specific Gravity

Density = mass/volume

How measure specific Gravity in the laboratory?

1. Jolly or beam balance 2. Pycnometer 3. Immersing in heavy liquid

Crystallography controlled intergrowths of 2 or more crystals of the same mineral

Twinning

States that: whether there is a center, a plane or an axis of twinning and gives the crystallographic orientation for the twin axis or plane.

Twin law

An imaginary axis about which the crystal s can be rotated to bring into coincidence with other

Twin Axis

A point about which the crystal may be inverted to bring into coincidence with the other

Twin center

A mirror plane reflecting the image of one crystal across it.

Twin plane

A surface or plane on which the two individuals are united

Composition surface

Fizzling sound heard, combined with bubbling seen where a carbonated mineral reacts with an acid

Effervescence

Can be flattened

Malleability

Can be changed in shape by pressure; capable of being drawn into the form of a wire

Ductility

Can be cut by a knife

Sectility

Separates into fragments

Brittleness

Capable of being bent or pulled out of shape

Elasticity

Bends easily and stays bent after the pressure is removed

Flexibility

Property of a mineral to be attracted to a hand magnet

Magnetism

Strongly attracted

Ferromagnetic

Slightly attracted

Paramagnetic

Not attracted

Diamagnetic

Mineral that lack the presence of a transition metal or other magnetic ions

Diamagnetic

Magnetic ions in a mineral have a completely random orientation

Paramagnetic

Magnetic ions in a mineral have a completely random orientation

Paramagnetic

Natural tendency for pairs of magnetic ions to align in opposite direction so that there is spin paring between adjacent magnetic ions

Antiferromagnetism

There is an excess of magnetic ions aligned in one particular direction

Ferromagnetism

A property of a mineral when pressure is exerted along an axis of quartz, a positive electrical charge is set up at one end of the axis and a negative charge at the other end

Piezoelectricity

Induced by heating crystals lacking a symmetric center

Pyroelectricity

7 type of taste (minerals)

1. Saline (salt) 2. Alkaline (soda) 3. Bitter (Epsom salt) 4. Sour (acids) 5. Astringent (iron vitriol) 6. Sweet astringent (alum) 7. Cooling (salt Peter)

Example of order (mineral)

1. Fetid odor / rotten egg 2. Argillaceous odor 3. Bituminous odor 4. Garlic odor (e.g Arsenopyrite)

Physical property of minerals Flashcards

(74 cards)