Earth and Life Science: Rocks and Minerals

Flashcards covering key concepts related to rocks, minerals, and their properties based on lecture notes.

Igneous Rocks

Rocks formed from volcanic activity, either intrusive (plutonic) or extrusive (volcanic).

Intrusive Igneous Rocks

Rocks that form from magma that cools slowly underground, resulting in a coarse-grained texture.

Extrusive Igneous Rocks

Rocks that form from lava that cools quickly on the Earth's surface, resulting in a fine-grained texture.

Clastic Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks formed from the accumulation and lithification of mechanically weathered materials.

Chemical Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks formed through the chemical precipitation of dissolved minerals or evaporation of bodies of water.

Metamorphic Rocks

Rocks that originate from existing rocks and undergo changes in mineralogy, texture, and chemical composition.

Foliated Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic rocks that have a layered or banded appearance due to the alignment of minerals under pressure.

Non-Foliated Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic rocks that do not exhibit a layered appearance, typically formed under uniform pressure.

Luster

The way a mineral reflects light, which can be classified as metallic, glassy, pearly, or dull.

Hardness

The measure of a mineral's ability to withstand scratching or abrasion, commonly measured using the Mohs scale.

Cleavage

The tendency of a mineral to break along flat planes, producing smooth surfaces.

Specific Gravity

The measure of the relative density of a mineral compared to water.

Crystal Structure

The orderly geometric arrangement of atoms within a mineral.

Mafic

Igneous rocks that are rich in magnesium and iron, typically dark-colored.

Felsic

Igneous rocks that are rich in feldspar and silicon, typically light-colored.

Porphyritic Texture

A texture in igneous rocks where large crystals are embedded in a finer-grained matrix.

Tenacity

The behavior of a mineral when subjected to stress, such as breaking or bending.

Magnetism

A property of some minerals where they are attracted to a magnetic field.

Uses of Copper

Commonly used for electrical wiring.

Uses of Talc

Used in making paper, ceramics, and cosmetics.

Uses of Limestone

Serves as a raw material for cement production.

Metamorphism

The process by which rocks change due to heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids.