Minerals/Mining Quiz Unit 7

What are the 5 characteristics of minerals?

Must occur naturally in the earth, must be inorganic, always solids, have a definite chemical composition, and atoms are arranged in a definite repeating pattern (crystal structure).

What are the 6 physical properties of minerals?

Color, luster, hardness, streak, density, and cleavage/fracture.

Explain streak in terms of mineral properties.

The color of the powder scraped off a mineral when it is rubbed against a hard, rough surface.

What is Mohs scale used for?

To measure the hardness of minerals, ranging from 1 (softest - talc) to 10 (hardest - diamond).

List 5 examples of how minerals are used in everyday life.

Food, buildings, cosmetics, electronics, and jewelry.

What does stratigraphy study?

The study of how rock layers are formed.

Define uniformitarianism.

The concept that the processes of erosion, deposition, and subterranean heat that are currently observable have formed the current land forms slowly over millions of years.

What are the characteristics of felsic igneous rocks?

Low in iron and high in silica, made of light-colored materials (e.g., granite).

What are the properties of mafic igneous rocks?

High in magnesium and iron, made of darker colored materials and are heavier (e.g., basalt).

What distinguishes ultra mafic rocks from mafic rocks?

Ultra mafic rocks contain 90% mafic materials and are low in silica.

What are the properties of intermediate igneous rocks?

Composition between mafic and felsic (EX: andesite)

What is unique about fine-grained igneous rocks?

Made of small interlocking crystals formed from rapid cooling of magma at the Earth's surface (e.g., basalt).

What is unique about coarse-grained igneous rocks?

Interlocking mineral crystals that are bigger because it hardens slowly

Describe the texture of porphyritic igneous rocks.

Combines large and small crystals due to slow cooling followed by rapid cooling when approaching the surface.

Describe the texture of glassy igneous rocks

A shiny/polished look, magma hardened quick so there was no time for crystals to form. EX: obsidian

What are the 4 types of metamorphism?

Contact, dynamic, regional, and hydrothermal.

What is contact metamorphism?

Occurs when magma comes in contact with an existing rock.

What is dynamic metamorphism?

From mountain formations, huge pressure bends, folds, and crush the existing rock

What is regional metamorphism?

Large amounts of rock are altered because of the high pressure+temperature as they are pushed deep within the earth

What is hydrothermal metamorphism?

Rock comes into contact with hot fluids near ocean vents

Define clastic-shale sedimentary rocks, and give an example.

Formed from the weathering or erosion of preexisting rock (e.g., shale).

Define organic-coasedimentary rocks, and give an example.

How do chemical sedimentary rocks like gypsum form?

Form when minerals fall out of solution or water evaporates, leaving behind mineral sediments.

What is the rock cycle?

A continuous process that describes the transformation of rocks through weathering, erosion, deposition, cementation, metamorphism, magma, and crystallization

What are the steps in the mining process?

Prospecting/Surveying, Exploration, Design/Planning, Development, Production, Reclamation

List pros and cons of surface mining.

Pros: Less expensive, safer. Cons: Alters large portions of landscape, increased erosion.

List pros and cons of subsurface mining.

Pros: Less surface damage. Cons: More expensive, Additional safety concerns, Acidic Water conditions

What is the difference between restoration and reclamation of mines?

Restoration involves returning a disturbed site to a natural state; reclamation is about rehabilitating for a useful purpose.