CroninProjects.org/ Vince/ Course/ PhysGeol/ Atoms-Minerals.html

Iron-nickel meteorite displaying an "octahedrite" structure. The minerals form a Widmanstätten pattern that is characteristic of iron-mineral formation in an asteroid. Photo by Vince Cronin.

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Atoms and Minerals

Reading

Read and study chapter 3

Notes and Handouts

Notes: Minerals-MainPoints.html

Presentation file

Atoms, elements and minerals -- non-copyright material only (pdf file, ~625 KB)

Smart Figures

3.3 — Most rocks are aggregates of minerals: https://goo.gl/7cZXyr

3.15 — Color variations in minerals: https://goo.gl/wznOpk

3.16 — Streak: https://goo.gl/ULVLM4

3.18 — Some common crystal habits: https://goo.gl/IBw40J

3.19 — Hardness scales: https://goo.gl/https://goo.gl/ZN0DAG

3.20 — Micas exhibit perfect cleavage: https://goo.gl/JYClSi

3.21 — Cleavage directions exhibited by minerals: https://goo.gl/5Ikkd6

3.24 — Calcite reacting with a weak acid: https://goo.gl/pnGkML

3.33 — Five basic silicate structures: https://goo.gl/xpaEPC

Vocabulary to learn

Consult your textbook, lab manual, or lecture notes for definitions. Remember that the best general source of definitions in geology is the AGI Glossary of Geology.

alkali feldspar	anhedral	atom	avoirdupois	carbonate mineral
chemical properties	cleavage and cleavage plane	cleavage angle(s)	cleavage direction(s)	conchoidal fracture
crystal	crystal face	crystal form	crystalline solid	cubic cleavage
exsollution lamellae	fibrous fracture	fracture	good cleavage	greasy luster
habit	hackly fracture	halide mineral	hard minerals	hardness
hefting	hydroxide mineral	industrial mineral	ion	lattice
magnetism	mass	metallic luster	mineral	mineral grain
Mohs hardness scale	MRDS (Mineral Resources Data System)	native element	nonmetallic luster	opaque
oxide mineral	pearly luster	phosphate mineral	physical properties	plagioclase feldspar
polysynthetic twinning	poor cleavage	reaction to acid	resinous luster	rock
rock-forming mineral	satin	silicate mineral	silky	soft minerals
specific gravity	splintery fracture	streak	streak plate	striations
subhedral	submetallic luster	sulfate mineral	sulfide mineral	tenacity
thin section	translucent	transparent	uneven fracture	vitreous luster
waxy luster

Study Questions

Note that any of the vocabulary words listed above is "fair game" for a question on any quiz that includes this material.

Atoms and minerals study questions: Minerals-Questions.html

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