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16 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is a mineral?
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naturally occurring
norganic solid definite chemical structure (gives it a unique set of physical properties) Most rocks are aggregates composed of two or more minerals. |
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Building Blocks of Minerals
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Minerals are made of Elements, which are made of Atoms
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Elements
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Large collection of electrically neutral atoms, all having the same atomic number
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Atoms combine to form:
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compounds
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How do atoms bind together?
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gaining, losing, or sharing electrons with other atoms.
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Isotopes
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-variants of the same element
Some isotopes are unstable and disintegrate naturally through a process called radioactivity. |
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8 properties of minerals:
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Color
density or specific gravity crystal form streak cleavage luster hardness fracture |
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rock-forming minerals
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a few dozen minerals that make up most of the rocks of Earth's crust and, as such
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8 special physical and chemical properties used for identification:
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feel
taste smell elasticity malleability magnetism double refraction chem. reaction to hydrochloric acid |
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What is the most common mineral group?
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Silicates
Each silicate mineral has a structure and a chemical composition that indicates the conditions under which it was formed. |
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nonsilicate mineral groups
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contain several economically important minerals
The more common nonsilicate rock-forming miner¬als: carbonate minerals calcite dolomite 2 other nonsilicate minerals frequently found in sedimentary rocks: halite gypsum |
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mineral resources:
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endowment of useful minerals ultimately available commercially.
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Reserves:
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already identified deposits from which minerals can be extracted profitably
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known deposits:
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that are not yet economically or technologically recoverable.
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Other Mineral Resources
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Deposits inferred to exist, but not yet discovered, are also considered mineral resources.
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Ore
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those useful metallic minerals that can be mined for a profit, as well as some nonmetallic minerals, such as fluorite and sulfur, that contain useful substances
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