Minerals

Question 1

What is a mineral?

Answer 1

• Naturally occurring
• Inorganic (no C-H bonds)
• Solid
• Ordered atomic arrangement (ie. crystalline)
• Specific chemical formula

Question 2

Minerals are known as

Answer 2

The building blocks of life

Question 3

Ionic Bonding is present in:

Answer 3

• oxides
• sulphates
• carbonates

Question 4

Covalent Bonding is found in:

Answer 4

• native copper
• silver
• gold

Question 5

crystal growth is inhibited by:

Answer 5

lack of:

• space
• time

Question 6

Glass vs Crystal

Answer 6

Crystal: ordered structure
Glass: disordered structure

Question 7

Diamond

Answer 7

Mineral

Question 8

Graphite

Answer 8

mineral

Question 9

polymorphs

Answer 9

same chemical composition, different crystal structures.

ie. diamond and graphite

Question 10

sugar

Answer 10

non-mineral

Question 11

coal

Answer 11

non-mineral

Question 12

volcanic glass

Answer 12

non-mineral

Question 13

shell

Answer 13

mineral

Question 14

teeth and bone (apatite)

Answer 14

mineral

Question 15

Covalent/metallic bonds

Answer 15

electron sharing

Question 16

ionic bonds

Answer 16

electron transfer

Question 17

True/False: beautiful crystals occur naturally?

Answer 17

False. More often, crystals nucleate and grow quickly, bumping into one another in the process. (Grains).

Question 18

Glass

Answer 18

• Occurs when crystals don’t have time to nucleate

- Develop when cooling occurs rapidly

Question 19

Silicates form ___% of rock-forming minerals (crust)

Answer 19

92%

Question 20

Key characteristic of silicates

Answer 20

Silicon tetrahedron backbone

Question 21

Types of silicates

Answer 21

• Isolated tetrahedra (olivine (8%))
• Single chain (pyroxene (11%))
• Double chain (amphibole (5%))
• Sheets (mica (5%))
• Framework (feldspar (51%); quartz(12%))

Question 22

Non-silicates make up ___% of the crust

Answer 22

8%

Question 23

Non-silicates

Answer 23

• carbonates
• oxide minerals
• sulphate minerals
• halide minerals

Question 24

Physical properties of minerals

Answer 24

• Hardness
• Cleavage
• Luster
• Colour
• Density
• Crystal habit

Question 25

Hardness

Answer 25

How difficult a mineral is to scratch

Question 26

Cleavage

Answer 26

- How a mineral breaks apart (smooth or jagged/wavy) | - indicates planes of internal heterogeneities

Question 27

Luster

Answer 27

metallic or non-metallic

Question 28

Colour

Answer 28

Note: impurities can affect colour, so on its own, colour is not a reliable way to classify

Question 29

Crystal habit

Answer 29

Description of the crystal's general shape

Question 30

Mineral diversity spiked following what historic event?

Answer 30

The Great Oxidation Event

Question 31

nearly 1/2 of the minerals present in the crust arose due to _____ and _____ of other, pre-existing minerals in an oxidized environment Example?

Answer 31

a) oxidation b)hydrolysis (weathering) Example: rust --> oxidation of iron