Earth science: Rocks and minerals

What are the 5 defining characteristics of a mineral?

Inorganic, solid, crystalline structure, definite chemical composition, naturally occurring.

What properties can we observe about a mineral?

Color, luster, streak, hardness, cleavage/fracture.

What properties do we test

Reacts with acid, magnetism, hardness

What does the Mohs Scale measure?

Hardness (1-10).

cleavage

smooth surfaces

Fracture

irregular breakage.

What is a mineral's streak?

The color of a mineral in powdered form.

Which mineral has a reddish-brown streak?

Hematite

What are the 'special properties' of minerals?

Magnetism, fluorescent, double refraction

What does a rock have to be before it can become igneous?

Magma.

What happens after a rock becomes magma?

It cools and solidifies to become igneous rock.

What does a rock have to be before it becomes sedimentary?

Igneous or metamorphic.

What happens after a rock becomes sedimentary?

It undergoes compaction.

What causes metamorphic rock to form?

Heat and pressure.

What is contact metamorphism?

Occurs when a rock is heated by something hot like lava or magma, but does not melt.

Where are intrusive igneous rocks formed?

Underground.

What type of grains do intrusive igneous rocks have?

Large grains.

Where are extrusive igneous rocks formed?

Above ground.

What type of grains do extrusive igneous rocks have?

Small grains.

What is the word for the stripes or layers in a metamorphic rock?

Foliation.

Which metamorphic rock reacts with acid? What is its parent rock?

Marble, parent rock is limestone.

What properties would be useful in identifying an unknown rock?

Composition and texture.

How are rocks classified?

By composition and texture.

How are metamorphic rocks formed?

From existing igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic rocks changing due to heat and pressure.

What is silica

Naturally occuring chemical compound

What type of igneous rock is high in silica content?

Granite.

What rock makes up the oceanic crust

Basalt (mafic, extrusive)

What rock makes up the continental crust

Granite (felsic, intrusive)

What factors are associated with regional metamorphism?

heat and pressure

What factors are associated with contact metamorphism?

Heat

What characteristics are associated with metamorphic rocks created by regional metamorphism?

Foliation

What characteristics are associated with metamorphic rocks created by contact metamorphism?

Non-foliated.

Rock characteristics

Organic, composition changes

Mineral characteristics

inorganic, definite chemical composition, crystalline structure

Rock and mineral similarities

solid, naturally occuring

Aphantic definition

Fine grained

Phaneritic definition

Coarse grained

Porphyritic definition

both fine and coarse grained crystals

vesicular definition

contains gas bubbles

Mafic

dark, Fe-rich

felsic

light, Si-rich

Students want to identify a rock in a nearby field. Which of the following properties would be most useful in identifying the unknown rock?

mineral content

Which of these mineral properties cannot be used to identify a mineral?

Mass

The most common mineral in Earth's crust is:

quartz

The resistance of a mineral to scratching is called:

hardness

The terms Metallic and Non-Metallic are used to describe:

luster

Minerals containing silicon and oxygen are:

silicates

Common salt is the mineral:

halite

The physical properties of a mineral are largely due to its:

internal arrangement of atoms

The mineral known as fool's gold is:

pyrite