Earth science: Minerals & Rocks

naturally occurring uniform substance that are inorganic

Mineral

substance not formed by living things

Inorganic

How are minerals formed

crystallization

cooling of magma or evaporation

crystalization

Hardness(minerals)

How easily a mineral scratches(GLASS PLATE/FINGER NAIL)

Streak(minerals)

The color of its powder(STREAK PLATE)

Luster(minerals)

Metallic vs. Non-metallic

Breakage(minerals)

Cleavage vs. Fracture

aggregate of one or more minerals

rock

mostly glued sediment particals that preserve records of the past

sedimentary rock

3 types of sedimentary rocks

-clastic

-bioclastic

-chemical

made from sediment that are glued together

Clastic(sedimentary)

made from shells of once living organisms or plant remains

Bioclastic(sedimentary)

evaporation of salty lakes or deep oceans

Chemical(sedimentary)

Limestone

shallow sea

Coal

tropical rainforest & swamps

Sandstone

desert

How to identify Sedimentary

• fossils

• layers

• made up of clasts(pebbles & sand grains)

preserved remains, impressions, or any other evidence of once living organisms

fossil

Rock that are heated and put under pressure

Metamorphic

What are the types of Metamorphic rocks

• Contact

• Regional

Magma touches a cold rock(HEAT ONLY)

Contact(Metamorphic)

Occurs when tectonic plates come together and collide(HEAT & PRESSURE)

Regional(Metamorphic)

mineral crystals align

foliated

No mineral alignment

Non- Foliated

How to identify Metamorphic

• Banding

• Mineral alignment(sparkly)

• Non-foliated

cooled liquid magma/lava that solitifies into mineral crystals

Igneous rocks

2 types of Igneous rocks

• Extrusive rocks

• Intrusive rocks

lava cools quickly at surface

Extrusive(igneous)

magma cools slowly deep in earth

Intrusive(igneous)

Extrusive rock textures

• Glassy

• fine

• vesicular

Intrusive rock textures

• Coarse

• Very Coarse

mineral crystals individual grains that can’t be seen without magnification

fine

SLOW COOLING; individual grains can be seen by naked eye

Coarse

>10mm mineral crystal

very coarse

“ingredients” or minerals that make it up

Composition

surface quality, feel/appearance, size, shape, …..ect

Texture

Felsic Igneous rocks

• light color

• Lower density

• composition rich in silicon & Aluminum

Mafic Igneous rocks

• Dark color

• High density

• composition rich in iron & magnesium

How to Identify Igneous rocks

• Ingrown crystals(speaks of different colors)

• Glassy

• Vesicular(gas pockets)