L2_Minerals_F24_Part_1

Mineral

Naturally occurring solid with a definable chemical composition and crystalline structure, typically inorganic.

Mineralogy

The study of minerals, including their physical properties, chemistry, and crystal structure.

Polymorphs

Minerals with the same chemical composition but different atomic arrangements, resulting in different properties (e.g., diamond and graphite).

Crystal Structure

The ordered internal arrangement of atoms in a mineral, which determines its physical properties.

Chemical Bonding

The process of forming compounds by combining two or more elements through interactions of their outer shell electrons.

Ionic Bond

A type of chemical bond formed through the transfer of electrons between atoms, resulting in electrostatically attracting ions.

Covalent Bond

A strong chemical bond formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms of similar electronegativity.

Metallic Bond

A bond where electrons drift around from atom to atom, not attached to a particular atom, allowing for good electrical conductivity.

Valence Electrons

The outermost electrons of an atom that are involved in chemical bonding.

Streak

The color of a mineral in powdered form, which is often more consistent than the color of the mineral itself.

Luster

The way a mineral's surface scatters light, categorized as metallic or nonmetallic.

Hardness

A measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching, often assessed using the Mohs hardness scale.

Cleavage

The tendency of a mineral to break along specific planes of weakness, producing flat surfaces.

Fracture

The way a mineral breaks into irregular surfaces, as opposed to along cleavage planes.

Specific Gravity

The ratio of a mineral's weight in air to the weight of an equal volume of water, indicating how heavy it feels.

Acid Reaction

A special property of some minerals, particularly carbonates, that effervesce when exposed to acid.

Striations

Very thin, parallel grooves found on some minerals, such as plagioclase feldspar, indicating crystal growth patterns.

Biogenic Minerals

Minerals formed by living organisms, such as calcite in shells or aragonite in corals.

Mohs Hardness Scale

A scale used to rank minerals based on their hardness, from talc (1) to diamond (10).

Van der Waals Bonds

Van der Waals Bonds

sheets of covalently bonded atoms held together by weak elctro-static forces

Crystal Habit

External expression of a mineral’s internal arrangement of atoms.

Fibrous

fibers are soft and flexible, resistant to heat, electricity and chemical corrosion, highly toxic.

Twinning

share a common lattice point, intergrowth of two or more crystal gains.