building blocks of rocks

study of minerals

any naturally occuring inorganic solid that possesses an orderly crystalline structure & well defined chemical composition; occurs in nature, is solide, orderly repetitive structure that can be expressed in a chemical formula

any solid mass of mineral or mineral like matter that occurs naturally as part of our planet

several different items like minerals in one rock (granite is a rock made up of several minerals)

smallest particule that cannot be chemically split

# of protons and neutrons in the center usually the same # with electrons that surround the atom also usually the same amount

interact with other atoms to form chemical bonds

the number of protons in an atom that determines its chemical nature

group of the same kind of atom (90 natural & 23 synthesized)

elements that join with others to form a mineral

atoms tend to gain, lose or share electrons until they are surrounded by 8 valence electrons

transfer of sharing of electrons that allows each atom to attain a full valence shell of electrons

electrons are transferred between the atoms

electrons are shared between the atoms

electrons are shared among all the atoms in the element

total number of protons and neurtons in an atom

an atom ith the same # of protons to make an element but a different number of neutrons

the nuclei changes through random process becoming unstable isotope radiating energy & emit particles is used to measure age of fossils, rocks and minerals

used in identification of minerals and is luster, light transmission, color and streak of a mineral

the appearance or quality of light that is reflected from the surface of the mineral (how the light hits the mineral)

appears to look like it is a metal

is not as shiny as metal as if freshly broken, has a dull or tarnished appearance from the exposure to air

described as having vitreous (glasy look), dull (earth luster like soil), pearly luster (like inside of clam shell) or silky luster (as if coated in oil)

no light will go through the sample

you see light through but no image can be seen through the sample

both light and image can be seen through the sample

the color of the sample can be misleading especailly for those that have several tints such as quartz

the color of the powdered mineral that is obtained by rubbing the sample across a streak plate (unglazed porcelain piece) can help identfy the color of the mineral as will always have same streak color no matter the color of actual sample & distinguishes between metallic luster and nonmetallic luster

the shape of the crystall or aggregate of crystals

the resistance to abrasion or scratching

gives # value of hardness with diamond having the hardest of 10 and talc having the lowest of 1

the tendecy of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding, with a # of cleavage directions and angles at which they meet

having a chemical bond that equally or nearly so strong in all directions

produces uneven surface

breaks into smooth, curved surfaces like broken glass

breaks into splinters

breaks into fibers

mass per unit volume

is used to describe the density, unit less # representing ratio of minerals weight to the weight of an equal volume of water

the taste, feel, smell, magnetic and ability to interact with acid

when a transparent piece is placed over letters they appear to be seen twice

the minerals of the earth's surface

those used extensively in the manufactur of products

• oxygen
• silicon
• aluminum
• iron
• calcium
• sodium
• potassium
• magnesium

they are made up of oxygen and silion that are the basic building blocks of the group

other mineral groups they are far less abundant

contain oxygen and silicon plus 1 or more additional elements

4 oxygen atoms that surround the smaller silicon atom

earth's storehouse of useful materials that can be recovered for use

already idenified deposits from which minerals can be extracted profitably

useful metallic minerals that can be mined for profit

it is abundant and can crystallize at any tempature depending on the othe chemicals with it