ATOMS, ELEMENTS, MINERALS, ROCKS
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Created by:
ranger4christ on September 1, 2010
Subjects:
geology, minerals, geology terms, geology 1110
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29 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Atom | Smallest individual particle retaining properties of an element |
| Element | Fundamental substances into which matter can be broken down chemically |
| Mineral | Naturally formed inorganic solid that has a specific chemical composition and a distinct crystal structure; composed of elements |
| Rock | Naturally formed, coherent mass of one or more minerals, sometimes including organic debris. (Can sometimes be composed of something other than a mineral. [i.e. coal]) |
| 5 Mineral properties | 1) Naturally formed; 2) inorganic (diamonds are made of inorganic carbon); 3) solid; 4) specific chemical composition; 5) Characteristic crystal structure |
| Mineraloids | Lack specific composition and/or characteristic crystal structure (Obsidian) |
| Nucleus | Protons (+ charge) and neutrons (neutral); very little volume but nearly all mass of atom |
| Atomic number | Number of protons in nucleus |
| Mass Number | Total number of protons plus neutrons |
| Isotopes | Atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers |
| Electrons | (-charge) Contribute very little mass; move around nucleus in complex 3-D patterns called orbitals; energy level shells are groupings of orbitals |
| Ion | Atom with excess positive or negative charge caused by electron transfer; cation= + charge, anion = -charge |
| Compounds | Atoms of two or more elements combined in a specific ratio; molecule = smallest unet |
| Ionic bonding | Electrostatic attraction between + and - charged particles |
| Covalent bonding | Sharing of electrons by two adjacent atoms |
| Metallic bonding | Closely packed atoms; electrons shared between several atoms |
| van der Waals bonding | Weak secondary attraction between certain molecules. (Graphite has van der Walls and ionic(?) and diamonds just have ionic(?); both carbon) |
| Crystalline structure | Has a crystal structure (quartz) |
| Amorphous structure | Lacks crystal structures (obsidian) |
| Ionic Substitution | Ions with similar sizes and charges can substitute for each other. (Iron and Magnesium) |
| Mineral Group | Displays extensive ionic substituition without changing cation:anion ration |
| Properties of minerals | Crystal form and growth habit. Cleavage, luster, color, streak, hardness, density and specific gravity. |
| Mohs hardness scale | (1) talc, (2) gypsum, (3) calcite, (4) fluorite, (5) apatite, (6) orthoclase (feldspar), (7) quartz, (8) topaz, (9) corundum, and (10) diamond |
| Silicates | Minerals that contain silicate anion (SiO4)-4; most abundant group |
| Silicate Tetrahedron | Four oxygen atoms surrounding silicaon atom. Oxygen atoms must (1) bond with other cations and/or (2) bond with two silicon atoms at one time |
| Polymerization | Process of linking silicate tetrahedra |
| Common Minerals | Olivine group, Garnet group, Pyroxene group, Amphipole group, Micas, Quartz (15% of crust), Feldspar group (60% of crust) |
| Other common mineral groups | Carbonates, phosphates, Sulphates |
| Ore mineral groups | Sulfides, oxides |
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