Earth Science, 10th edition

Chapter 1: Minerals: Building Blocks of Rocks

 

    I. Minerals: the building blocks of rocks

 

       A. Mineral definition

              

       B. Mineraloid - lacks an orderly internal structure<

         

       C. Rocks are aggregates (mixtures) of minerals

 

  II. Composition and structure of minerals

       A. Elements

              

 

       B. Atoms

              

 

 

III. How atoms are constructed

 

A.     Nucleus, which contains

         

 

B.     Energy levels, or shells

 

                            

       C. Atomic number is the number of protons in an atom's nucleus

 

 

       D. Bonding of atoms

 

              

       E. Isotopes

              

 

IV. Minerals

       A. Properties of minerals

             1. Crystal form

             2. Luster

             3. Color

             4. Streak

             5. Hardness

             6. Cleavage

             7. Fracture

             8. Specific gravity

             9. Other properties

    

 

              

       B. A few dozen minerals are called the rock-forming minerals

1.       The eight elements that compose most rock-forming minerals are

2.       Most abundant atoms in Earth's crust are

                    

         

    

       C. Mineral groups

             1. Rock-forming silicates

                  a. Most common mineral group

                  

                  b. Contain the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron

                       

                  c. Groups based upon tetrahedron arrangement

                       

                       

                  d. Feldspars are the most plentiful mineral group

 

 

                  e. Crystallize from molten material

 

             2. Nonsilicate minerals

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                  a. Major groups

                  

                  b. Carbon­ates

                  

 

                  c. Halite and gypsum are found in sedimentary rocks

                  d. Many have economic value

    

       D. Mineral resources

                       

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