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Physical Science Notes

Minerals: Building Blocks of Rocks

When learning about minerals the most important activity is looking at photographs of samples and handling samples taking the time to really observe them.

Mineral: a naturally occurring inorganic solid that possesses a definite chemical structure, which gives it a unique set of physical properties.

This definition has a lot of terminology in it. Explain each of the following terms:
 
inorganic
 
solid
 
chemical structure
 
physical properties
 

Earth has about 4000+ minerals that are grouped together into classifications based upon their chemical structures e.g. silcates, halides, sulfides etc.

Rock: an aggregate of one or more minerals, define aggregate:
 

Basic Building Blocks of Matter

• Element: Fundamental building block of matter that cannot be broken down by chemical means. Example:       
• Atoms: The smallest particle of an element. Example:       
• Nucleus: The central region of an atom containing the protons and neutrons. Draw a diagram:       
• Proton: A subatomic particle with a positive electrical charge
• Neutron: A subatomic particle about the same mass as a proton but electrically neutral
• Electron: A subatomic particle with a negative electrical charge that exists in orbitals outside the nucleus of an atom
• Atomic Number: The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. Example:       
• Ion: A particle or collection of particles with a net electrical charge. Example:       
• Mass Number: The sum of the number of protons and neutrons in an atom. Example:       
• Isotopes: Two or more atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers. Example:       
• Radioactivity: The spontaneous emission of particles and energy from the nucleus of an atom. Example:       

Subatomic Particles

Fill in this chart that compares the three subatomic particles:

Properties of Minerals

Crystal Form

External expression of internal order

Luster

quality of light reflected from the surface; metallic, vitreous (glassy), pearly, silky, resinous, earthy (dull)

Color

unreliable diagnostic property - why is this property unreliable?

Streak

color of a mineral in its powdered form (obtained using a streak plate - unglazed porcelain)

Hardness

Cleavage

tendency of a mineral to break along lines of weak bonding

Fracture

conchodial, splinter, irregular

Specific gravity

comparison of the weight of a mineral to an equal volume of water's weight

Other Properties

feel, magnetism, double refraction (calcite), smell (sulfur=rotton eggs), reaction with acid (carbonates fizz), taste, elasticity, malleability

Mineral Groups

Rock-forming minerals

[O, Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Na, K, Mg]

Eight elements compose 98% of continental crust. Name them:

Silicon and Oxygen

most abundant elements in rocks.

Silicates

based on Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron

Feldspars

50% of Earth's Crust: Quartz, Olivine, Pyroxene, Amphibole, Micas

Carbonates

Calcite - Calcium Carbonate (limestone, marble)

Halite

Table Salt, Sodium Chloride

Gypsum

Plaster

Ores of Metals

Hematite, Sphalerite, Galena

Native Metals

Gold, Copper, Carbon

Key Terms

atom, atomic number, carbonates, cleavage, color (of minerals), compound, crystal form, electron, feldspar, fracture, hardness, ions, luster, mineral, Mohs hardness scale, neutron, nucleus, ore, quartz, silicate, silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, streak