Grotzinger • Jordan

Understanding Earth
Sixth Edition

Chapter 3:
EARTH MATERIALS
Minerals and Rocks

© 2011 by W. H. Freeman and Company

Chapter 3:
Earth
Materials:
Minerals and
Rocks
 6. What Are Rocks?

Rocks are classified into three

groups:

Igneous

Sedimentary

Metamorphic
6. What Are Rocks?
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
 7. The Rock Cycle

Interactions between the plate

tectonic and climate systems
7. The Rock Cycle
7. The Rock Cycle
7. The Rock Cycle
7. The Rock Cycle
7. The Rock Cycle
7. The Rock Cycle
 8. Concentrations of Valuable
Mineral Resources

Types of ore minerals:

Vein deposits
Disseminated deposits
Igneous deposits
Sedimentary deposits
 8. Concentrations of Valuable
Mineral Resources
Deformed
country rock
Geysers and
hot springs
Origin of vein
deposits

Groundwater

Magma

Plutonic
intrusion
 Groundwater dissolves metal oxides
and sulfides. Heated by the magma, it
rises, precipitating metal ores in joints.

Deformed
country rock
Geysers and
hot springs

Groundwater

Magma

Plutonic
intrusion
 Groundwater dissolves metal oxides
and sulfides. Heated by the magma, it
rises, precipitating metal ores in joints.

Deformed
country rock
Geysers and
hot springs Vein deposit

Groundwater

Magma

Plutonic
intrusion
 8. Concentrations of Valuable
Mineral Resources

Typical sulfide minerals from vein deposits

 8. Concentrations of Valuable
Mineral Resources
Open-pit mine for disseminated
deposits of copper-bearing minerals.
 8. Concentrations of Valuable
Mineral Resources
Igneous deposits

Chromite
layers (dark)
in layered
igneous rock
 8. Concentrations of Valuable
Mineral Resources

Sedimentary deposits:
Copper, iron, other metals
Gold, diamonds, other
heavy minerals (placers)
Key terms and concepts
Anion
Atomic mass
Atomic number
Bedding
Biological sediment
Carbonate
Cation
Chemical sediments
Cleavage
Color
Contact metamorphism
Covalent bond
Crystal
Crystal habit
Key terms and concepts
Density
Disseminated deposit
Electron sharing
Electron transfer
Erosion
Fracture
Grain
Hardness
Hydrothermal solution
Igneous rock
Ion
Ionic bond
Isotope
Lithification
Key terms and concepts
Luster
Magma
Metallic bond
Metamorphic rock
Mineral
Mineralogy
Mohs scale of hardness
Ore
Oxides
Polymorph
Precipitate
Regional metamorphism
Rock
Rock cycle
Key terms and concepts
Sediment
Sedimentary rock
Silicate
Siliclastic sediments
Specific gravity
Streak
Sulfate
Sulfide
Texture
Trace element
Vein
Weathering