MODULE 4: EARTH MATERIALS & PROCESSES

Minerals

are naturally occurring inorganic solids. They are considered natural because they are derived from natural geological processes

Color

The property used to identify mineralseasily.

Streak

The color of the mineral in powderform.

Hardness

The measure of the mineral’s resistance to scratching.

Cleavage and Fracture

They are used to describe how minerals break into pieces.

Crystalline Structure

It tells how a mineral’s crystals are arranged.

Transparency /Diaphaneity

Indicates the extent of light that can pass through the mineral

Magnetism

The ability of a mineral to attract or repel other minerals.

Tenacity

The level of resistance or reaction of minerals to stress such as crushing, bending, breaking or tearing.

Luster

It refers to the reaction of a mineral to light.

Odor

It is a distinct smell of a mineral that is usually released from a chemical reaction when subjected to water, heat, air or friction.

Specific gravity

It is a measure of the density of a mineral

Silicate Class

It is the largest and most abundant group containing silicon and oxygen with some aluminum, magnesium, iron, and calcium.

Carbonate Class

It is mostly found deposited in marine environments.

Sulphate Class

It forms in areas with high evaporation rates and where salty water slowly evaporates.

Halide Class

It has relatively low hardness, may be transparent, have good cleavage, have low specific gravities, and are poor conductors of heat and electricity.

Oxide Class

It is a diverse class.Formed a sprecipitates close to Earth’s surface or as oxidation products of minerals during the process of weathering.(gemstones)

Sulphide Class

These metals are found in electrical wires, industrial materials. and other things that are needed in construction.

Phosphate Class

It contains minerals withphosphorus. a biological mineral foundinteethandbones

Native Element Class

It contains metal and intermetallic elements, semimetals, nonmetals or natural alloys, and constituents of a few rare meteorites.

Rocks

A natural substances consisting of aggregate minerals clumped together with other Earth materials through natural process. products of a natural cyclic process.

Igneous rocks

is formed from molten rock that has cooled and hardened.

Sedimentary rock

is formed from material that has settled into layers and hardened

Methamorphic rock

is a rock that has changed by heat and pressure

Igneous Rocks

derived from Latin word “ignis” meaning fire. crystallized from magma or molten or partially molten volcanic materials that came from within Earth. formed by the cooling and crystallization of magma (melted rock)

PLUTONIC - INTRUSIVE

COOLED BELOW SURFACE ATGREAT DEPTHS

VOLCANIC - EXTRUSIVE

COOLED AT OR NEAR THESURFACE THROUGH VOLCANICERUPTIONS

Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks from deposition of different materials on Earth's surface. they come from preexisting rocks or pieces of dead organisms that have been “lithified” or cemented together by natural processes. It show distinct layering or bedding on the surface.

Detrital (or clastic) sediment

is composed of transported solid fragments (or detritus) of pre-existing igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic rocks

Chemical sediment

forms from previously dissolved minerals that either precipitated from solution in water , or were extracted from water by living organisms

Organic sedimentary rocks

consisting mainly of plant remains

Rock Salt

is a chemical sedimentary rock that forms from the evaporation of ocean or saline lake waters. It is also known by the mineral name "halite ".

Organic sedimentary rocks

such as coal , some dolomites , and some limestones , form from the accumulation of plant or animal debris.

metamorphic rocks

rocks that derived from igneous or sedimentary rocks that were exposed to high pressure,high temperature,or a combination of both,deep below the surface of the Earth

Metamorphism

process by which conditions within the Earth alter the mineral content and structure of any rock, igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic, without melting it.

Foliated metamorphic rocks

such as gneiss phyllite , schist , and slate have a layered or banded appearance that is produced by exposure to heat and directed pressure

Non-foliated metamorphic rocks

such as hornfels , marble , quartzite novaculite , and do not have a layered or banded appearance.

granite

use to make kitchen tables

chalk

used to make chalk

marble

used to make statues

limestone

used to make cement

Rock Cycle

A diagram that shows the continuous succession of how rocks form, break down, and reform as a result of the processes that induce the formation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks