Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
52 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What is a mineral?
|
Naturally occuring, solid, inorganic, crystalline atomic structure, and has specific atomic structure
|
|
Examples
Oil Coal Synthetic Diamond Volcanic Glass Tooth enamal Ice |
No--not solid
No--not organic No-not naturally occuring Yes No-not crystalline No-Not organic Yes |
|
What is an atom, and why do atoms bond together?
|
Atom is the smallest building block of matter.
Minerals bond together to fill outer electron shells |
|
What types of bonds are usually the strongest?
|
Covalent
|
|
Why do minerals grow with peculiar, geometric shapes?
|
Because they grow to fill whatever space they are in
|
|
In what circumstances might they take other shapes?
|
When they are in a different shaped space
|
|
What are the eight most common elements in the continental crust
|
Iron, aluminum, sodium, magnesium, silicon, oxygen, calcium, and potassium
|
|
What group of minerals is the most common?
|
Oxygen (and silicon)
|
|
Why is it most common?
|
Because of the vast majority of common (rock ofrming) minerals are silicates -- combinations of oxygen and silicon
|
|
What group of minerals is the most common?
|
Silicates
|
|
Why is it the most common?
|
Because silicon and oxygen which are hte two main ingredients in Silicates are the most common elements in the Earth's crust
|
|
If more silica is present in a system, then what changes about hte nature of hte silicate minerals present?
|
The cleavage of hte mineral changes because the cleavage occurs between the silicon-oxygen structures
|
|
Atom
|
The smallest particle that exists as an element
|
|
Electron
|
A negatively charged subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and that is found oustide an atom's nucleus
|
|
Neutron
|
A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. The neutron is electronically neutral and has a mass approximately that of a proton.
|
|
Proton
|
A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom
|
|
Energy Levels (shells)
|
Spherical, negatively charged zones that surround the nucleus of an atom
|
|
Atomic Number
|
The number of protons in the nucleus (what is used to define a particular element)
|
|
Mass Number
|
The number of total protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom
|
|
Element
|
Substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical or physical means
|
|
Ion
|
An atom or molecule that possesses an eletrical charge (caused by an unequal charge of protons and electrons)
|
|
Isotope
|
Varieties of the same element but different mass
Nucleus contains the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons |
|
Rock
|
Solid mass
Mineral or mineral-like matter Occurs naturally Most rocks are aggregate |
|
Crystalline
|
The type of structure each mineral has that gives it a unique physical structure
Allows us to more easily identify the mineral Crystalline Solids--atoms are arranged in a pattern repeated over in different directions |
|
Period Arrangement of Atoms
|
Atoms are arranged according to their atomic number. This number is the amount of protons in the nucleus.
|
|
Naturally occuring
|
Mineral most form by natural, geological proceses
|
|
Solid
|
In order to be a mineral, substances must be solid at temps normally experienced at Earth's surface. Ice is a mineral, liquid water is not.
|
|
Well-Defined Chemistry
|
Most minerals are chemical compounds, made up of two or more elements
|
|
Water Cycle
|
The continuous interchange of water among the oceans, atmosphere, and continents. Powered by energy from the sun, it is a global system in which the atomosphere provides the link between the oceans and continents.The processes involved in the water cycle include: Precipitation, Evaporation, Condensation, Infiltration (the movement of rocks or soil through cracks and pore spaces), runoff (water that flows over the land rather than infiltrating into the ground), and transpiration (the release of water vapor to the atmosphere by plants)
|
|
V-shaped Canyons
|
These are canyons that have been eroded by water, which formed a V-Shape
|
|
Landslides
|
A geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments. Although the action of gravity is the primary driving force for a landslide to occur, there are other contributing factors affecting the original slop stability. typically, pre-conditional factors build up specific sub-surface conditions that make the area/slope prone to failure, whereas actual landslide often requires a trigger before being released.
|
|
Meandering Streams
|
Streams that flow on floodplains move in sweeping bends called meanders. Once a bend in a channel begins to form, it grows larger. Erosion occurs on the outside of the meander where velocity and turbulence are greatest.
|
|
Floodplains
|
The side to side cutting of a stream eventually produces a flat valley floor called a floodplain.
|
|
Sinkholes
|
A depression produced in a region where soluble rock has been removed by ground water. The dissolving action of groundwater slowly removes rock, allowing surface depressions known as sinkholes to form.
|
|
Geysers
|
A fountain of hot water that ejects/shoots off periodically. Occurs where extensive underground chambers exist within hot igneous rocks.
|
|
Artesian wells
|
A well where the water rises above the level where it was initially encountered.
|
|
Springs
|
Water freely flowing from the ground in any weather with an inexhaustible supply and no visible source.
|
|
Tectonic forces and uplift
|
Tectonics are the deformation of Earth's crust and result in the formation of structural features like mountains.
|
|
Mass wasting
|
The transfer of rock and soil downslope because of gravity
|
|
Erosion
|
Physical removal of material by agent, like water, waves, wind or ice.
|
|
Deposition
|
Process which water vapor is changed directly to a solid without passing through a liquid state. Causes deltas and natural levees.
|
|
Water Velocity
|
A measure of how fast water flows. The distance that water travels in a unit of time. It is determined by gradient, shape, size, and roughness of channel
|
|
Turbulence
|
Stream flow is usually turbulent with water moving in erractic fashion characterized by swirling motion
|
|
Stream Gradient
|
The slope of a stream channel expressed as the vertical drop of a stream over a specified distance.
|
|
Base level
|
The lowest point to which a stream may erode its channel. there is ultimate base level and temporary/local base level. Any change in base level will cause a stream to adjust and establish a new balance.
|
|
Groundwater Flow
|
Rainfall that soaks into the ground restuls in groundwater.
The amount of ground water depends on steepness of hte slope, nature of surface material, intensity of rainfall, and type/amount of vegeation. |
|
Dissolution and precipitation of minerals
|
Minerals are dissolved and brought to a stream by groundwater and dispersed throughout the flow.
|
|
Tectonic forces and uplift
|
Tectonics are the deformation of Earth's crust and result in the formation of structural features like mountains.
|
|
Mass wasting
|
The transfer of rock and soil downslope because of gravity
|
|
Erosion
|
Physical removal of material by agent, like water, waves, wind or ice.
|
|
Deposition
|
Process which water vapor is changed directly to a solid without passing through a liquid state. Causes deltas and natural levees.
|
|
Water Velocity
|
A measure of how fast water flows. The distance that water travels in a unit of time. It is determined by gradient, shape, size, and roughness of channel
|