NJIT Physics 203 Earth in Space Exam 2 UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
geology the study of the Earth's geosphere
geosphere the solid part of the earth
mineralogy the study of minerals
mineral Any naturally occurring solid, inorganic object with a definite chemical
structure
properties of a mineral color, streak, luster, light transmittance, hardness, tenacity, cleavage, habit,
density, specific gravity, taste, smell, magnetic properties, chemical reactivity
color (mineral property) least reliable way to identify a mineral
streak (mineral property) the color of a mineral in its powder form is more reliable
light transmittance (mineral property) transparent: see through
opaque: no light
translucent: kind of see through
hardness (mineral property) resistance to scratching/rubbing without breaking
mohs scale measures hardness of a mineral from 1-10
1: talk (baby powder)
10: diamond
you can scratch minerals together to see which is harder
pocket knife: 4.5
fingernail: 2.5
tenacity (mineral property) resistance to breaking/deforming
to measure it you need to break or at least deform the mineral
no scale to measure it
cleavage (mineral property) crystal geometry of a mineral when you break it (classified by orientation of the
cleavage planes)
habit (mineral property) the crystal geometry of a material if it forms without confinement
(most of the time, it is not realized as most minerals form with at least some
confinement)
density (mineral property) = mass/volume
every mineral has its own density
specific gravity (mineral property) the density of an object in comparison to the density of the water
= density of substance/density of water
, magnetic properties (mineral property) can be tested if it attracts metal
silicates the most common type of mineral
based on SO4, tetrahedral structure
types of silicates in increasing complexity nesosilicates, sorosilicates, single chain inosilicates, double chain inosilicates,
phyllosilicates, tectosilicates
types of silicates from darkest to lightest nesosilicates, sorosilicates, single chain inosilicates, double chain inosilicates,
phyllosilicates, tectosilicates
darker silicates are more dense due to the most amount of metals such as
magnesium and iron
lighter silicates are less dense due to the smaller amount of metals
sulfates mineral group based on sulfur oxygen
carbonates mineral group based on carbon oxygen
oxides mineral group based on metals connected with oxygen
- iron (red), aluminum, copper (green)
halides a mineral group based on the halogens
native elements based on one atom type only
- pure iron/gold
petrology the study of rocks
rock any naturally occurring, inorganic solid that is a mixture/aggregate of minerals
with no definite chemical structure
petrography the study of the classification of rocks
petrogenesis the study of how rocks form
types of rocks igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
igneous rock molten rock that crystallizes into solid rock
extrusive igneous rock VOLCANIC: molten rock (lava) that came out of the Earth, cools off and then
crystallizes
- aphanitic and glassy (short cooling period)
intrusive igneous rock PLUTONIC: molten rock (magma) that stays in the center of the Earth and then
cools off and then crystallizes
- phaneritic and pegmatitic (long cooling period)
Questions and CORRECT Answers
geology the study of the Earth's geosphere
geosphere the solid part of the earth
mineralogy the study of minerals
mineral Any naturally occurring solid, inorganic object with a definite chemical
structure
properties of a mineral color, streak, luster, light transmittance, hardness, tenacity, cleavage, habit,
density, specific gravity, taste, smell, magnetic properties, chemical reactivity
color (mineral property) least reliable way to identify a mineral
streak (mineral property) the color of a mineral in its powder form is more reliable
light transmittance (mineral property) transparent: see through
opaque: no light
translucent: kind of see through
hardness (mineral property) resistance to scratching/rubbing without breaking
mohs scale measures hardness of a mineral from 1-10
1: talk (baby powder)
10: diamond
you can scratch minerals together to see which is harder
pocket knife: 4.5
fingernail: 2.5
tenacity (mineral property) resistance to breaking/deforming
to measure it you need to break or at least deform the mineral
no scale to measure it
cleavage (mineral property) crystal geometry of a mineral when you break it (classified by orientation of the
cleavage planes)
habit (mineral property) the crystal geometry of a material if it forms without confinement
(most of the time, it is not realized as most minerals form with at least some
confinement)
density (mineral property) = mass/volume
every mineral has its own density
specific gravity (mineral property) the density of an object in comparison to the density of the water
= density of substance/density of water
, magnetic properties (mineral property) can be tested if it attracts metal
silicates the most common type of mineral
based on SO4, tetrahedral structure
types of silicates in increasing complexity nesosilicates, sorosilicates, single chain inosilicates, double chain inosilicates,
phyllosilicates, tectosilicates
types of silicates from darkest to lightest nesosilicates, sorosilicates, single chain inosilicates, double chain inosilicates,
phyllosilicates, tectosilicates
darker silicates are more dense due to the most amount of metals such as
magnesium and iron
lighter silicates are less dense due to the smaller amount of metals
sulfates mineral group based on sulfur oxygen
carbonates mineral group based on carbon oxygen
oxides mineral group based on metals connected with oxygen
- iron (red), aluminum, copper (green)
halides a mineral group based on the halogens
native elements based on one atom type only
- pure iron/gold
petrology the study of rocks
rock any naturally occurring, inorganic solid that is a mixture/aggregate of minerals
with no definite chemical structure
petrography the study of the classification of rocks
petrogenesis the study of how rocks form
types of rocks igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
igneous rock molten rock that crystallizes into solid rock
extrusive igneous rock VOLCANIC: molten rock (lava) that came out of the Earth, cools off and then
crystallizes
- aphanitic and glassy (short cooling period)
intrusive igneous rock PLUTONIC: molten rock (magma) that stays in the center of the Earth and then
cools off and then crystallizes
- phaneritic and pegmatitic (long cooling period)
