Study Guide
Chapter 4
Know all Vocabulary
Review summaries on page 95
Know the mineral identification lab
I. Minerals
- 3,000 in Earth’s Crust
- Naturally occurring and inorganic (coal not a mineral)
- Solids (specific composition)
No liquid or gas a mineral
Majority made from compounds
Chemical composition- well-defined range
-Crystalline Structure
regular geometric patterns
form in open space-large crystals
6 major crystal systems- page 79 table 4-1
- Magma
know how magma forms crystals
rate of cooling- size of crystals
type & amount of elements- which minerals will form
density differences
- Solution
Know how minerals are formed
Supersaturated solution- minerals precipate
Liquid evaporates- mineral crystals formed
II. Mineral Groups
-30 common minerals
1- Silicates- silicon and oxygen- know structures-figure 4-6 page 82
2- Carbonates- carbonate compound- know characteristics and examples
3- Oxides- oxygen and metal- know characteristics and examples
4- Sulfides, Sulfates and Halides
III. Mineral Uses
1- Ores- useful substance that can be mined
2- Mines- know process, demand changes classification of minerals
3- Gems- rarity and beauty- know examples- trace elements change
Value of gem (mineral)
IV. Lab
Cleavage/Fracture- how a mineral breaks
Density- lab station- mass divided by volume
Hardness- Moh’s scale- testing by scratching
Streak- powdered form of the mineral-testing with porcelain streak plate
Color- unreliable
Luster-terms used to describe a minerals luster