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Earth Materials Processes
Earth Materials Processes
A. What is a mineral?
is a solid inorganic material of the Earth that
has both a known chemical composition and
a crystalline structure that is unique to that
mineral.
is homogenous, naturally occurring
substance formed through geological
processes that has a characteristic chemical
composition, a highly ordered atomic
structure and specific physical properties.
Physical Properties of Minerals
Color
– A visual measure.
– Not very useful for identification as color of
minerals varies considerably.
Quartz
Purple Amethyst
•Clear
Fluorite •Blue
•Green
•Purple
Physical Properties of Minerals
Streak
– This is the color of the mineral when it is finely
powdered.
– Rubbed across a piece of tile, leaving a fine
powder of the mineral on the tile.
Physical Properties of Minerals
Hardness
– Resistance of the material to being
scratched.
– Measured using the Mohs hardness scale,
which compares the hardness of the
mineral to 10 reference minerals.
Mohs Hardness Scale
1 Talc Softest
2 Gypsum
3 Calcite
4 Fluorite
5 Apatite
6 Potassium feldspar
7 Quartz
8 Topaz
9 Corundum
10 Diamond Hardest
Physical Properties of Minerals
Crystal form
– Related to the internal geometric
arrangement of the atoms that make up the
crystal structure.
Physical Properties of Minerals
Fracture
– Breaks irregularly,
jagged edges
– The broken surface
is irregular and not
in a flat plane.
Fracture
Physical Properties of Minerals
Luster
– How light shines off a mineral
– Metallic or Nonmetallic
• Surface sheen
• Metallic – like metal
• Pearly – like pearl
• Vitreous – like glass
• Earthy
Luster
Metallic Nonmetallic
Mineral-forming Processes
– Magma
• Molten rock from which minerals are formed
– Lava
• Magma that is forced to the surface
– Influences on the mineral forming process
• Temperature
• Pressure
• Time
• Availability and concentration of ions
A rock is a naturally occurring solid
mixture of one or more minerals, or
organic matter
Elements are chemically combined
to form minerals
Minerals are physically combined
to form rocks.
Rocks change over time through
the rock cycle.
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Igneous rock got its name
from a Latin word “ignis”
which means fire. The
parent material of igneous
rocks is usually magma, a
molten material from deep
within the Earth that cools
& harden.
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/igneous.htm
Intrusive igneous rock
(Plutonic Igneous)
Formed when magma cools deep
within the Earth’s surface
Cools very slowly as it is in contact
with molten rock.
Produces course-grained igneous
rock.
Ex. Granite, Gabbro, Andesite and
Diorite.
Extrusive igneous rock
(Volcanic Igneous)
Magma that cools above the
Earth’s surface.
Produces fine-grained igneous
rocks.
This rapid cooling does not allow
time for crystals to form.
Ex. Basalt, Obsidian, Pumice &
Scoria
Coarse-Grained: Cooled Fine-Grained: Cooled
slowly, underground quickly, at surface
Light-
colored
Granite Rhyolite
Dark-
Colored
Gabbro Basalt
Obsidian is a dark-colored volcanic glass that forms from the very rapid
cooling of molten rock material. It cools so rapidly that crystals do not form.
Coal is an organic
sedimentary rock that
forms from the
accumulation and
preservation of plant
materials, usually in a
swamp environment.
The metamorphic rocks get
their name form “meta”
(change) and “morph”
(form). Earth movements can
cause rocks to be pressed,
bent or deeply buried under
layers of other rocks. This
leads to an increase in
temperature and pressure.
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/metamorph.htm
These conditions cause
physical and chemical
changes in the rock-prolith
(may be an igneous,
sedimentary or another older
metamorphic rock). The old
rocks are forcefully change
into a new kind
(metamorphism).
http://www.fi.edu/fellows/payton/rocks/create/metamorph.htm
Contact (thermal) Metamorphism – evolves when
rocks near igneous intrusive get heated. This
produces non-foliated metamorphic rocks.
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/geology/meta_regional.html&edu=high&fr=t
The
Rock Cycle
There is a hierarchy
Atoms to the
make up elements.
elements of Geology
Natural compounds
and elements combine
to form minerals.
.
Rock Cycle ?
The Rock Cycle explains
how Rocks and Natural Processes
are related
weathering
Sedimentary Metamorphic
at
he
me
e,
lt
ur
ing
s
es
pr
Igneous
A more traditional definition is:
Rock Cycle
is a sequence of events involving the
formation, alteration, destruction, and
reformation of rocks as a result of
natural processes ...
Metamorphic
Igneous
Sedimentary
Rocks
form from
molten rock or
magma in the
me
subsurface or
lt
ing
from lava
extruded at
Igneous the surface
The Rock Cycle
weathering
Rocks are
Sedimentary Metamorphic weathered,
eroded,
transported,
deposited,and
lithified
to form
sedimentary
rocks
Igneous
The Rock Cycle
Pressure,
Metamorphic heat
Sedimentary
and fluids
cause
preexisting
at
he
rocks or
e,
sediments to
urs
es
become
pr
metamorphic
Igneous rocks
Becoming a METAMORPHIC ROCK …
at
he
me
ur
ing
s any number of
es
pr
times.
Igneous