Geosphere, Minerals, and Rocks

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Geology

9th

57 Terms

1

native element

A non-silicate mineral group of minerals that contain only 1 element.

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2

oxides

A non-silicate mineral group of minerals that contain oxygen and a metal in the compound.

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3

silicates

The most common mineral group that makes up ~90% of the crust and is made up of compounds that contain silicon and oxygen.

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4

sulfides

A non-silicate group of minerals that contains sulfur and a metal as part of the compound.

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5

carbonates

A non-silicate group of minerals that contain carbon and oxygen in the compound CO3

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6

Physical properties

Characteristics of minerals that help with identification created by the mineral's unique combination of chemical composition and arrangement of atoms.

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7

Streak

Color of a mineral's powder left behind on a streak plate. One of the physical properties useful in mineral identification. Especially for metallic minerals.

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8

cleavage

the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces due to planes of weak bonding. One of the physical properties useful in mineral identification.

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9

Fracture

When minerals break in directions other than along cleavage surfaces (i.e. not along flat planes).

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10

color

the color of a mineral sample recognized by inspection. One of the physical properties useful in mineral identification.

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11

impurity

Foreign material, such as elemental additions, within a mineral's structure that are not part of its integral structure. Impurities are often responsible for color changes.

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12

Luster

The way a mineral reflects light. Two main types are metallic and non-metallic. One of the physical properties useful in mineral identification.

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13

hardness

resistance of a mineral to scratching. Described on Moh's hardness scale from 1-10, with one being the softest.

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14

element

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical or physical means. Symbols will be a capital letter or capital letter plus 1 lowercase letter on the periodic table of elements. Some minerals are elements.

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15

Oxygen

most abundant element in the earth's crust (~47%)

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16

Silicon

2nd most common element in the earth's crust (~28%)

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17

Compound

A combination of elements

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18

Inorganic

not formed from living things or the remains of living things. Was never alive.

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19

Sedimentary Rock

A type of rock that typically forms when sediment goes through the 4 part process of deposition, burial, compaction, and cementation. Can also chemically precipitate directly from water.

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20

Metamorphic Rock

A type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed by heat and/or pressure.

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21

Igneous Rock

a type of rock that forms from the solidification of molten magma or lava.

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22

Naturally-occurring

Not made by humans. One of the 5 criteria of a mineral.

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23

mineral

a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid that possesses a definite chemical composition and structure which gives it a unique set of physical properties

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24

Quartz

The most common mineral in the crust. It is made of the two most abundant chemical elements on Earth: oxygen and silicon. It is part of the silicate mineral group and has a chemical formula of SiO2.

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25

Feldspar

Part of the silicate mineral group that is one of the most common minerals in the crust along with quartz. We have seen plagioclase and orthoclase (potassium) feldspar samples.

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26

rock

naturally occuring solid that usually contains more than 1 mineral.

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27

aggregate

rock composed of a collection of minerals, particles, or smaller pieces

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28

bedding planes

The sedimentary rock texture with relatively flat surfaces along which the rocks tend to separate or break

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29

foliation

The metamorphic rock texture in which mineral grains are arranged in planes or bands.

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30

Granite

A usually light colored igneous rock that is found in continental crust

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31

Basalt

A dark, igneous rock with a fine texture, found in oceanic crust

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32

Pahoehoe

A hot, fast-moving type of lava that hardens to form smooth, ropelike coils

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33

aa

lava that hardens into rough, jagged rocks with a crumbly texture

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34

Deposition

The geological process in which sediments, soil and rocks are added to a landform or land mass. Step 1 of 4

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35

Burial

A process in making sedimentary rock where a layer of sediments is buried under subsequent layers. Step 2 of 4

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36

Compaction

Part of the formation of sedimentary rocks. When sediments are deeply buried, the pressure of overlying layers squashes the grains together more tightly. Step 3 of 4

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37

Cementation

A process in making sedimentary rock in which new minerals form between sediments to bind them all together. Step 4 of 4

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38

Pressure Process

When existing minerals change deep in the earth with the application of extreme heat and pressure (without melting).

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39

Precipitation Process

The method of forming minerals from water with dissolved atoms/ions in it that either a) becomes supersaturated (ex: hydrothermal) OR evaporates (ex: salt flats).

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40

Magma Process

As magma cools, atoms within it slow down and bond into crystalline solids/minerals. The longer it takes for the magma to cool, the larger the crystals grow.

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41

Magma

molten (hot liquid) rock located below the surface

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42

Lava

molten (hot liquid) rock that has reached the surface

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43

Pyroclastic

Fragments of rock erupted by a volcano

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44

Solidification

The cooling of magma or lava to form igneous rock.

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45

Melting

The process of changing a rock back into magma by applying heat.

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46

Heat and/or Pressure

Comes from magma, tectonic plate movement or deep burial. Process that creates metamorphic rocks.

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47

Crust

The thin, solid, brittle, outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle

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48

Mantle

The layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core. It is a solid, but can flow like a liquid.

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49

outer core

the liquid layer of the Earth's core that lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core

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50

inner core

A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth.

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51

Sediments

broken pieces of rock, categorized by size

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52

gravel

Sediment with a diameter between 2 mm and 64 mm.

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53

sand

Sediment with a diameter between 0.05 mm and 2 mm.

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54

silt

Sediment with a diameter between 0.002 mm and 0.05 mm.

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55

Weathering

The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.

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56

Erosion

The process by which wind, water, ice, or gravity transports soil sediment, and rock from one location to another

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57

Weathering and Erosion

The breaking down and removal of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface. These processes create sediment from any type of rock.

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