Foundations of Earth Science chapter 1

Mineral

Naturally occurring inorganic solid that possesses an orderly crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition that allows for some variation.

Mercury

The only mineral that is found in its liquid form in nature

Aggregate

Minerals joined in such a way that their individual properties are retained

Rock

Any solid mass of mineral or mineral-like matter that occurs naturally as part of our planet

Atoms

The smallest particles that cannot be chemically split

Atomic number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

Element

A group of the same kind of atoms that has the same atomic number

90

How many naturally occurring elements are there?

Chemical compounds

Elements joined with atoms of other elements

Valance electrons

Electrons in the outermost shell that interact with other elements to form chemical bonds

Octet rule

Atoms tend to gain, lose or share electrons until they are surrounded by eight valance electrons

Chemical bond

A transfer or share of electrons that allows each atom to attain a full valance shell of electrons

Ionic bond

When valance electrons are transferred to form ions

Covalent bonds

A chemical bond in which electrons are shared between atoms

Luster

The appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral

Metallic luster

Minerals that have the appearance of metal, regardless of color

Streak

The color of a mineral in powdered form

Crystal shape

Characteristic shape of individual crystals or aggregates of crystals

Habit

Characteristic shape of individual crystals or aggregates of crystals

Tenacity

Term that describes a mineral's toughness or its resistance to breaking or deforming

Hardness

A measure of the resistance of a mineral to abrasion or scratching

Mohs scale of hardness

Ten minerals arranged in order from 1 softest to 10 hardest

Cleavage

The tendency of minerals to break along planes of weak bonding

Fracture

A property of mineral bonds that are equally strong in all direction

Density

Mass per unit volume

Specific gravity

A number representing the ratio of a mineral's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water

Rock-forming minerals

Minerals that make up most of the rocks in Earth's crust

Economic minerals

Minerals that are used extensively in the manufacture of products

Oxygen and silicon

Two most common elements in the earth's crust

Silicates

Most common mineral group

Oxygen and silicon

Basic building blocks for all silicates

Silicates

800 minerals that account for 90% of the Earth's crust

Nonsilicates

Mineral groups that are far less abundant than silicates

Silicon-oxygen tetrahedron

Four oxygen atoms surrounding one silicon atom

Metallic bond

When valance electrons are shared among all the atoms in a substance

Ions

Positively and negatively charged atoms

Ionic bond

An attraction of oppositely charged ions to one another, producing an electrically neutral ionic compound

Light silicate minerals

Generally light in color and have a specific gravity of about 2.7

Feldspars

Most abundant mineral group

Dark silicate minerals

Given their color by iron, specific gravity is between 3.2 and 3.6