Earth's Subsystems and Mineral Identification

Atmospheric Circulation

Process redistributing heat across the Earth.

System

A set of interconnected components that interact to form a unified whole.

Earth's Subsystems

Biosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Geosphere.

Biosphere

Includes all living organisms and the abiotic factors from which they derive energy and nutrients, extending from a few kilometers into the atmosphere to the deep sea vents of the ocean.

Atmosphere Composition

78% nitrogen (N), 21% oxygen (O2), 0.9% argon, and some amount of other gases.

Hydrosphere

Comprises 70% of water on Earth's surface, with 3% being fresh water, 2/3 in the form of ice, and 1/3 in streams, lakes, and groundwater.

Ocean Circulation

Large-scale movement of water in the ocean basin, absorbing and redistributing heat on the Earth's surface.

Geosphere

Earth's solid surface, interior, rocks, minerals, landforms, and processes that shape the Earth's surface.

Mineral

A naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a specific atomic arrangement, fixed chemical formula, and existing as a solid under normal Earth conditions.

Luster

Quality and intensity of reflected light exhibited by a mineral, categorized as metallic or non-metallic (vitreous, adamantine, resinous, silky, pearly, dull, earthy, greasy).

Hardness

Measure of a mineral's resistance to abrasion, characterized on the Mohs' Scale.

Color and Streak

Color may vary due to impurities, while streak is the color of a mineral in powdered form, often more reliable for identification.

Crystal Form/Habit

Geometric appearance of crystal growth, with examples like prismatic, tabular, bladed, platy, reniform, and equant; amorphous minerals lack a crystal structure.

Breakage, Cleavage, Fracture

Cleavage involves breaking along parallel planes of weakness, while fracture results in irregular broken surfaces.

Specific Gravity

Ratio of a mineral's density compared to water, indicating mass per unit volume.

Other Properties

Unique mineral properties aiding in identification, such as magnetism, odor, taste, and reaction to acid.

Minerals

Are naturally occurring, inorganic substances with a specific atomic arrangement.

Minerals

Must exist as a solid under normal Earth conditions and have a fixed chemical formula

Reaction to Acid

Minerals like calcite fizz when in contact with acid.

inner core

made up of iron, with a small amount of nickel.

Outer core.

liquid iron that is especially important that it is the primary source of the Earth's magnetic field.

lithosphere.

upper layers of the Earth's interior called the

asthenosphere

The upper mantle is also called the

Nonmetallic

vitreous (glassy), adamantine (brilliant/diamond-like), resinous, silky, pearly, dull (earthy), greasy, etc.

Metallic

generally opaque and exhibit a resplendent shine like polished metal.with ideal surfaces will work as a reflective surface.

Metallic

Examples include galena, pyrite, and magnetite.

Adamantine

Possess a superlative luster, Has a high refractive index, With a true adamantine luster are uncommon

Adamantine

Examples being cerussite and cubic zirconia

Dull/Earthy

Due to coarse granulations which scatter light in all directions, it exhibits little to no luster

Dull/Earthy

Example is kaolinite

Greasy

Resemble fat or grease

Greasy

Examples include opal and cordierite

Pearly

thin transparent co-planar sheets

Resinous

Major example is amber (not amineral though has a similar appearance) - a resin in fossilized form

Silky

With parallel arrangement of extremely fine fibers, similar to silk but has a coarser texture

Silky

Examples are satin spar variety of gypsum, ulexite, and asbestos

Vitreous

Examples include quartz, topaz, beryl, calcite, tourmaline, and fluorite, With relatively low refractive indices

Vitreous

Transparent or translucent minerals

Waxy

Examples include chalcedony and jade

Scratch kit

It contains a copper coin, a nail, a glass, and a steel knife. You can also use your fingernail to scratch some minerals.

Crystal Form/Habit

It is the natural shape of the mineral before the development of any cleavage or fracture.

Amorphus

A mineral that does not have a crystal structure is described as

Blocky

(it has an equal growth rate in three dimensions).

Bladed

(it resembles a blade, with varied growth rates in 3 dimensions).

Needle like

(rapid growth of crystals in one dimension while slow in other dimensions).

Conchoidal fracture

breakage that looks like the concentric ripples of a mussel shell. opal, flint, or Obsidian (igneous rock)

Earthy fracture

reminiscent of freshly broken soil. usually seen in relatively soft, loosely bound minerals, like limonite, kaolinite, and aluminite.

Hackly fracture

also known as a jagged fracture

jagged, sharp, and not even. often encountered in torn native metals like copper and silver.

Splintery fracture

comprises sharp elongated points. particularly seen in fibrous minerals like chrysotile.

Uneven fracture

a rough surface or one with random irregularities. occurs in a wide range of minerals including pyrite, magnetite, and arsenopyrite.

Halides

minerals containing halogen elements combined with one or more elements (F, Cl, Br, I, At, Ts)

Semimetals

minerals that are more fragile than metals and have lower conductivity

Nonmetals

– nonconductive (sulfur, diamond)

Native Elements

– minerals that form as individual elements.

Carbonates

– minerals containing the carbonate anion (CO3-) combined

with other elements.

Sulfides

– minerals containing sulfur anion (S2-

) combined with one or more

ions.

Sulfates

– minerals containing sulfur and oxygen anion (SO4

2-

)

Oxides

– minerals containing oxygen anion (O2-

) combined with one or more

metal ions.

Silicates

SiO4