Geology Exam 1

characteristics of minerals

• naturally occurring

• inorganic

• solid at room temp

• ordered internal structure

• defined chemical composition

characteristics of rocks

• something significant mixed with junk

• a solid aggregate of minerals and junk

define aggregate

a mixture

• something that is put together that can be separated into its parts

define element

simplest form of matter

how many elements are there

over 100 known

• 92 are naturally occurring building blocks of minerals

define atom

the smallest particle of an element

• it has all the characteristics of the element

• has neurons which contain protons and neutrons and electrons

define compound

formed when 2 or more elements are chemically combined

• may not reflect the properties of the individual elements of which its made

• most are mineral compounds

define molecule

smallest particle of a compound

• made of atoms bonded together

define polymorph

minerals with the same elements but different crystalline structures

give an example of a polymorph

graphite and diamond

rock forming minerals rundown

• common minerals that make up most of rocks of earths crust

• only a few dozen of the 4000+ minerals

• composed mainly of the top 8 elements that make up over 88% of earths crust

• grouped by chemical composition

what is the most abundant element in the geo/lithosphere

oxygen

what two elements make up 75% of earth geo/lithosphere

oxygen (47%) and silicon (28%)

define silicates

important, largest group of minerals

what does the silicate group comprise

most rock forming minerals

what is the fundamental building block of silicate minerals

(SiO4) tetrahedron

what are the types of silicate structures

• single tetrahedra

• single chains

• double chains

• sheets

• 3 dimensional networks

non silicates rundown

• classes based on chemical composition

• comprise only 8% of the crust

what are the classes of non silicates

• carbonates

• halides

• oxides

• sulfides

• sulfates

• native elements

what are carbonates

(CO3)²

• make up most of limestone and there is lot sin the shanendoah valley

• example: calcite (CaCO3)

what are halides

CL, Br, F

• example: halite which is salt

what are oxides

O^-2

• example: hematite, water ice, magnetite

what are sulfides

S^-2

• galena, pyrite

what are sulfates

(SO4)^-2

• gypsum

what are the natural elements

• gold

• silver

• sulfer

• platinum

• copper

• diamond

• graphite

define ore

any mineral mined for profit

examples of ores

• hematite - iron

• halite - salt

• sphalerite - zinc

• bauxite - aluminum

• galena - lead

• gypsum - construction use

what is geology

the study of the natural aspects of Earth, describing its planets composition, behavior, and history

what does geoscience mean

geology is connected with all other sciences

why study geoscience

• very practical

• impacts our daily lives

• 21st century citizens will have to make decisions about Earth related issues and policies

• perspective/understanding that Earth is a complicated system

• puts humans vs natural hazards.disasters in perspective

• to observe

what makes up Earth as a system

• atmosphere (air)

• hydrosphere (water)

• litho/geosphere (land, minerals, rocks)

• biosphere (life forms)

what energy is externally driving the system

the sun

what energy is internally driving the system

heat

how are environmental changes made

when parts of the earths system interact with one another

how would you describe natural environmental changes

• normal

• inevitable

how do people interact with the earths system

with positive and negative consequences

what is influencing the earths environmental health

people choices

define sustainability

what is needed to keep culture and the environment alive and healthy so we can thrive in life

define stewardship

all individuals putting their best foot forward to create and maintain a clean and mature environment

define standard of living

a basis of what is considered to be healthy/sustainable for the average individual

what is the number one environmental problem

population growth

what impacts does population growth have

• agriculture, sanitation, modern medicine, and inexpensive energy sources

• total environmental impact increases

• more resources are needed and greater environmental disruption results

whats the predicted number for population in 2050

over 10 billion

why does Fenner think the world will be extinct in 100 years

• overpopulation

• environmental destruction

• climate change

describe how earth processes have changed

they used to be hazardous for people and they are now becoming catastrophic

what are the contributing factors that made environmental processes change

• population increase made people live in hazardous areas

• lang use changes with urbanization and deforestation increases flood hazards and slope failures

• burning fossil fuels has contributed to the warming of the atmosphere, altering global circulation patterns in the atmosphere and the oceans

what does public perception play a role in

deciding if something is a risk or hazard

facts about aluminum

• most abundant metal element in earths crust

• bauxite is the main source

• can form in a tropical climate by acids and soils

• lightweight

• strong

• corrosion resistant

• non-reactive

• recyclable

• component in making some glass

• used for packaging, transportation, and building/construction

• not attracted to a magnet

• not found in nature because of how it reacts to water and air

facts about antimony

• ore mineral is stibnite

• metal

• used to harden softer metals

• used in storage batteries and semiconductor tech

• used to make fireworks

• in US its use as flame retardant/fire proofing, esp in textiles

• china supplies 75% of worlds supply

• maxes ammunition

• doesnt react to air, acids, or bases

• expands when freezes

facts about beryllium

• 90% of worlds supply is from utah

• used in metal alloys

• high melting pint

• light

• used in nuclear reactors and x ray machines

• aerospace and defense industry

• gemstones - emerald, aquamarine, inorganic

• elasticity (for springs)

• makes gasoline pumps when alloyed with copper because it wont spark

facts about chromium

• hard metallic element

• mined from chromite

• 99% from south africa and zimbabwe

• alloyed with steel to make it harder and corrosion resistant

• large amount used in making stainless steel heat resistant, strong cooking, CAB items

• in chemicals its used for tanning leather and yellow textile dyes

facts about cobalt

• blue

• used by civilizations to color glass, ceramics, and make pigments

• used in super alloys for jet engines and wear resistant materials

• has magnetic properties and is rare

• comes from refining nickel ores

  • imported

  • needed to manufacture rechargable electric car batteries

• us uses 1/3 of total production

facts about copper

• native metal element

• one of the first metals used in civilization

• worlds leading producer is chile

• excellent conductor of electricity, drawn into wires/cables for transmitting power

• used for wiring in commercial and consumer electronics, plumbing, auto/machine parts

• alloyed with tin, zinc, etc to get bronze and brass

• essential micronutrient for animals

facts about diamond

• Found in kimberlite volcanic pipes, and in stream/placer deposits 

• Copper atoms strongly bound together  

• Extraordinary hardness, brilliances when faceted  

• When ray of light goes through diamond it slows down because of density of diamond 

• Personal adornment – flawless/D color is PERFECT (no color) 

• Natural fancy color diamonds are highly prized  

• Clarity, cut, color, carat weight  

• Help determine the value of the diamond  

• 4 Cs of diamonds  

• Industrial uses in saw blades, drill bits, etc.  

• Carat C is 1/5 of an ounce 

facts about feldspar

• Largest group of silicate minerals 

• 95% of minerals are silicates 

• Aluminum and silica (SiO₂₎ compounds  

• Used to make dinnerware, ceramic, and porcelain tiles  

• Glazes for ceramics 

• Important in glass production, electrical insulators you see on power lines  

facts about gold

• Thousands of dollar an ounce  

• Native metal element, oldest precious metal known to man 

• Likes to be by itself  

• Nestled in quartz crystals  

• Not super rare but not super prevalent  

• High density – very heavy (19.3 x heavier than water) 

• South Africa has about half of the worlds gold resources  

• Used in dentistry, medicine, jewelry, art medallions, coins, scientific and electronic devices, microwaves, and smartphones  

• Measure and protection of wealth  

facts about gypsum

• Evaporite mineral, soft, often with rock salt 

• Form XXL crystals in some caves 

• Original “plaster of Paris” 

• Main use in construction industry  

• Wallboard 

• Plaster 

• Architectural molding 

• Additive to concrete to control thickening and setting up rate 

• Major mining in USA – 13 states 

• US uses 30 million tons per year  

facts about halite

• Salt (NaCl – sodium chloride) 

• Essential nutrient for animals 

• Regulates blood fluids 

• Electrolyte  

• Food prep/processing 

• De-icer for winter roads  

• Used in making soap and pottery 

• Source of chlorine/bleach 

• Chemical industry applications

facts about indium

• On critical mineral list 

• By-product of mining zinc and copper ores 

• Silvery, super soft metal 

• Named for its intense indigo color on the spectrum 

• ½ of worlds supply comes from China 

• US important 100% 

• Needed for flat screen displays and touchscreens 

• Used as an electrically conductive film on solar photo-voltaic (PV) panels 

• Used as a low temperature soldering alloy 

• Ex: sprinklers in buildings  

facts about kaolinite

• White clay mineral 

• Soft 

• Powdery, sucks up water (absorbent) 

• Mainly used in coating paper, and in absorbent's, ceramics, paint, etc.  

• In tummy medicines to help with digestive issues 

• Diarrhea 

• Nausea 

• Absorbed the medicine your body needs and distributes it in your stomach – the kaolinite isn't used in the body 

• In organic farming its used as insect control  

facts about lithium

• Valuable element used in making heat resistant glass, aluminum products 

• Used more and more in rechargeable battery applications  

• More effective and affordable alternative to traditional batteries 

• Need to be recycled (safely) 

• Cell phone, laptop, electric car batteries 

• Lithium metal batteries 

• Single use button types 

• Cameras 

• Watches 

• Smoke detectors 

• Games 

• Some lithium compounds have been discovered and are used as medicines to treat some serious mental illness 

facts about manganese

• Essential to iron and steel production  

• Used to harden steel and make construction I-beams, some machinery, and in transportation 

• South Africa and Ukraine have over 80% of the world’s reserves  

• Wastewater treatment  

• Used as an algaecide and bactericide  

facts about platinum

• Dense 

• Silvery-gray metal 

• Native element 

• Part of rare group of similar elements 

• Rhodium 

• Palladium 

• Iridium  

• Occurs by itself 

• High melting point, non reactive 

• Main use in catalytic converters in automobiles to control emissions 

• Used in electronic circuitry, dental alloys in making crowns/bridges, also in jewelry 

• Used in pharmaceuticals/chemotherapy 

• Used to make airbags in cars 

facts about quartz

• Around us everywhere  

• Most abundant single mineral of all 

• SiO₂ – silicon dioxide  

• Tough at earths surface  

• Most common mineral in earths crust  

• Resistant to weathering at earths surface 

• Valuable in electronic applications for circuitry in computers, cell phones, TV, radios, electronic games 

• When pressure is applied it creates an electrical frequency/rhythm which is used in time pieces  

• Major raw component in making glass 

• Crystals often used for a “good feeling” 

facts about rare earth elements

• Group of chemical elements 

• 17  

• Unique geochemical properties 

• Widely dispersed, not usually concentrated for economical mining, “waste/secondary recovery” 

• Used to make high efficiency light bulbs 

• Light emitting diodes (LED) 

• Used in production of clean energy technologies, modern defense tech (radar, sonar, precision guided weapons, cruise missiles), high tech devices, displays (flat screen tv)  

• MRI, in microwave power tubes 

• Catalysts, glass and polishing, ceramics, phosphors  

• Night vision technology 

• Metallurgy/alloys  

• Wind turbines  

• China main production and US imports them