Geology: Minerals, Crystals, and the Geosphere (Vocabulary Flashcards)

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering crystalline structure, mineral properties, geosphere components, mineral definitions, and Earth’s composition from the notes.

Crystalline structure

Arrangement of the atoms of a pure substance in ordered and repeated patterns (e.g., table salt and diamonds).

Polymorphs

When the same mineral has more than one crystal structure; e.g., diamond and graphite; polymorphs can provide information about origin and formation environment.

Hardness

The ability to scratch or a measure of resistance to being scratched.

Cleavage and Fracture

Cleavage occurs along parallel planes due to weak bonding between crystalline planes (examples: mica, calcite).

Color

Minerals may have distinctive colors, but pure minerals are usually colorless.

Streak

The line a mineral leaves behind when rubbed on a hard surface (the mineral’s powdered color).

Density

Weight per unit volume; density = mass divided by volume (d = m/v).

Sphere

Any section or segment of a whole system.

Geosphere

The Earth’s system comprising several sections such as lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, and atmosphere.

Lithosphere

The rocks and solid segments of the Earth.

Hydrosphere

The oceans, seas, and all water segments.

Cryosphere

Glaciers and other areas where water is in solid form.

Atmosphere

The layers of gases above the Earth.

Minerals

Aggregations of one or more types of chemical elements (atoms) with specific properties.

Homogeneous systems

Systems with even distribution of components.

Heterogeneous systems

Systems with uneven distribution of components.

Inner core

Solid iron at Earth's center.

Outer core

Liquid iron surrounding the inner core.

Mantle

The Earth’s layer between the crust and the core.

Crust

Earth’s outermost solid shell.

Chemical elements

112 known elements; only about 8% make up 98% of Earth’s mass.

Mineral

A naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid with a specific chemical structure.

Four mineral requirements

Naturally occurring; Inorganic; Crystalline; Of specific chemical structures.

Naturally occurring

Minerals are not manmade; they occur in nature.

Inorganic

Not originated from living organisms.

Crystalline

Having a crystalline (ordered) structure.

Specific chemical structures

Minerals have defined chemical compositions and arrangements.

Quartz

An example of a mineral (silicon dioxide).

Diamond

An example of a mineral (a carbon mineral with a distinct crystal form).

Cubic zirconia

An example of a non-mineral (man-made substitute often used to imitate diamonds).

Coal

An example of a non-mineral.

Glass

An example of a non-mineral.

Mica (as a mineral example)

A mineral that illustrates cleavage along parallel planes.

Calcite

A mineral that illustrates cleavage along parallel planes.

Mineral properties and microscopic properties (MPs)

Mineral properties are related to their microscopic properties.

A. Chemical composition

The type and arrangement of composing elements that constitute MP’s.

B. Physical properties

Hardness, color, stability—properties that depend on the MP’s.