LESSON 2 - ROCKS and MINERALS (Chapter 2: p. 26-48)

ROCK - an aggregate of minerals. Examples

MINERAL - a naturally occurring inorganic solid that possesses a definite chemical structure, which gives it a unique set of physical properties. Again,

(glass, coal, oil, examples of what is not a mineral)

*the earth has about 4000 minerals

The COMPOSITION and STRUCTURE of a MINERAL is based on the ELEMENTAL PROPERTIES and ARRANGEMENT of ATOMS within a DEFINITE PATTERN or FRAMEWORK.

The textbook contains a Periodic Table on p. 451.

BASICS OF MINERAL CHEMISTRY

ATOMS consist of NUCLEUS (clouds positively charged protons and neutrons) surrounded by a cloud of negatively charged ELECTRONS in SHELLS representing different energy levels surrounding the nucleus.

The atomic number (PROTONS) and the arrangement of electrons in shells give the atom it's electrical charge and atomic size characteristics.

Elements combine in definite proportions to form COMPOUNDS. (MINERALS are COMPOUNDS!) Based on electronic properties of atom, atoms form different kinds of bonds.

ISOTOPES - The MASS NUMBER of an ATOM is total of NEUTRONS and PROTONS. Some ELEMENTS have more than one mass based on variants in the number of NEUTRONS.

The ATOMIC WEIGHT of an element is based on the average weight of elements in their relative natural abundances. e.g. C12 and C14. (p. 451 - periodic table)

RADIOACTIVITY is based on the instability of some ISOTOPES. Some isotopes break down to form lighter isotopes or different elements. This is important to the study of radiometric dating. For example, Carbon has three isotopes: C12, C13, and C14. C14 is radioactive: it forms from incoming cosmic radiation striking nitrogen (N14) in the atmosphere ( neutron + N14 = C14 + proton ). C14 is then absorbed by living tissue. No new C14 is absorbed once an organism dies. C14 constantly slowly breaks down through time: ( C14 = N14 + beta- particle)

CRYSTAL FORM is the external expression of the orderly internal arrangement of atoms. If a mineral can grow unrestricted it will develop individual crystals with well formed crystal faces.

Other unique properties of minerals are: LUSTER, COLOR, STREAK, HARDNESS, CLEAVAGE, FRACTURE, SPECIFIC GRAVITY. (Other properties include fluorescence, phosphorescence, solubility, magnetic, radioactivity, piezoelectric, and "magical power according to some folks...").

A comparison of quartz and calcite:

ABUNDANCE OF ELEMENTS IN THE EARTH'S CRUST

MINERAL GROUPS

SILICATES: (silicon-oxygen TETRAHERDON, tetrahedrons form chains, double chains, and sheets.)

Common silicates are subdivided into groups:

BOWEN'S REACTION SERIES - explains how the CRYSTALLIZATION process as magma cools, causes HIGH temperature minerals to form FIRST (mostly MAFIC minerals), and the LOW temperature minerals to form LAST (mostly FELSIC minerals). This causes the composition of the magma to change through time from being Mafic to Felsic through time. In a "magma chamber," a large volume of molten rock underground, this process is called MAGMATIC DIFFERENTIATION.

OXIDES