Geosphere, Minerals, and Rocks

A non-silicate mineral group of minerals that contain only 1 element.

A non-silicate mineral group of minerals that contain oxygen and a metal in the compound.

The most common mineral group that makes up ~90% of the crust and is made up of compounds that contain silicon and oxygen.

A non-silicate group of minerals that contains sulfur and a metal as part of the compound.

A non-silicate group of minerals that contain carbon and oxygen in the compound CO3

Characteristics of minerals that help with identification created by the mineral's unique combination of chemical composition and arrangement of atoms.

Color of a mineral's powder left behind on a streak plate. One of the physical properties useful in mineral identification. Especially for metallic minerals.

the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces due to planes of weak bonding. One of the physical properties useful in mineral identification.

When minerals break in directions other than along cleavage surfaces (i.e. not along flat planes).

the color of a mineral sample recognized by inspection. One of the physical properties useful in mineral identification.

Foreign material, such as elemental additions, within a mineral's structure that are not part of its integral structure. Impurities are often responsible for color changes.

The way a mineral reflects light. Two main types are metallic and non-metallic. One of the physical properties useful in mineral identification.

resistance of a mineral to scratching. Described on Moh's hardness scale from 1-10, with one being the softest.

A pure substance that cannot be broken down into other substances by chemical or physical means. Symbols will be a capital letter or capital letter plus 1 lowercase letter on the periodic table of elements. Some minerals are elements.

most abundant element in the earth's crust (~47%)

2nd most common element in the earth's crust (~28%)

A combination of elements

not formed from living things or the remains of living things. Was never alive.

A type of rock that typically forms when sediment goes through the 4 part process of deposition, burial, compaction, and cementation. Can also chemically precipitate directly from water.

A type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed by heat and/or pressure.

a type of rock that forms from the solidification of molten magma or lava.

Not made by humans. One of the 5 criteria of a mineral.

a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid that possesses a definite chemical composition and structure which gives it a unique set of physical properties

The most common mineral in the crust. It is made of the two most abundant chemical elements on Earth: oxygen and silicon. It is part of the silicate mineral group and has a chemical formula of SiO2.

Part of the silicate mineral group that is one of the most common minerals in the crust along with quartz. We have seen plagioclase and orthoclase (potassium) feldspar samples.

naturally occuring solid that usually contains more than 1 mineral.

rock composed of a collection of minerals, particles, or smaller pieces

The sedimentary rock texture with relatively flat surfaces along which the rocks tend to separate or break

The metamorphic rock texture in which mineral grains are arranged in planes or bands.

A usually light colored igneous rock that is found in continental crust

A dark, igneous rock with a fine texture, found in oceanic crust

A hot, fast-moving type of lava that hardens to form smooth, ropelike coils

lava that hardens into rough, jagged rocks with a crumbly texture

The geological process in which sediments, soil and rocks are added to a landform or land mass. Step 1 of 4

A process in making sedimentary rock where a layer of sediments is buried under subsequent layers. Step 2 of 4

Part of the formation of sedimentary rocks. When sediments are deeply buried, the pressure of overlying layers squashes the grains together more tightly. Step 3 of 4

A process in making sedimentary rock in which new minerals form between sediments to bind them all together. Step 4 of 4

When existing minerals change deep in the earth with the application of extreme heat and pressure (without melting).

The method of forming minerals from water with dissolved atoms/ions in it that either a) becomes supersaturated (ex: hydrothermal) OR evaporates (ex: salt flats).

As magma cools, atoms within it slow down and bond into crystalline solids/minerals. The longer it takes for the magma to cool, the larger the crystals grow.

molten (hot liquid) rock located below the surface

molten (hot liquid) rock that has reached the surface

Fragments of rock erupted by a volcano

The cooling of magma or lava to form igneous rock.

The process of changing a rock back into magma by applying heat.

Comes from magma, tectonic plate movement or deep burial. Process that creates metamorphic rocks.

The thin, solid, brittle, outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle

The layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core. It is a solid, but can flow like a liquid.

the liquid layer of the Earth's core that lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core

A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth.

broken pieces of rock, categorized by size

Sediment with a diameter between 2 mm and 64 mm.

Sediment with a diameter between 0.05 mm and 2 mm.

Sediment with a diameter between 0.002 mm and 0.05 mm.

The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.

The process by which wind, water, ice, or gravity transports soil sediment, and rock from one location to another

The breaking down and removal of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface. These processes create sediment from any type of rock.