Describing Minerals
Which test looks at the color of the powder left by a mineral?
Streak test
Of the different metals that we discussed, which is the best conductor of electricity?
If a mineral has sulfur in it, what do we classify that mineral as?
Sulfide
Where are precious metals most likely to be found in?
Placer deposits
What is a mineral?
A naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid that has a definite chemical composition
What is diamond composed of?
Carbon atoms
Which type of mining involves a vertical mine shaft that then buries sideways to reach mineral veins?
Deep mining
What kind of luster does quartz have?
Glassy
What does the acid test show us?
The presence of carbonates, sulfides, and sulfates in a mineral
Where do we often find sulfur?
What type of mineral is quartz?
A compound mineral
What kind of luster does a diamond have?
Adamantine
What is the difference between cleavage and fracture?
Cleavage - the ability of a mineral to break into flat sheets or along certain facets
Fracture - occurs when minerals break into many jagged surfaces
What is platinum used for?
Batteries and for pollution control in cars
What is strip mining?
What is specific gravity?
The ratio of a mineral's density to the density of water
Describe the composition of compound minerals, native minerals, and mixtures of minerals
Compound minerals - made of pure substances, whether elements or compounds
Native minerals - made of atoms of just one element
Mixtures of minerals - not chemically bonded together
What is sulfuric acid used for?
Refining petroleum and coal
What is the difference between silicates and oxides?
Silicates - contains mostly silicon and oxygen
Oxides - made of oxygen and another element (often metals)
Before - only six minerals named (gold, bdellium, onyx, copper, and iron
After the flood - many more minerals and ores were formed and moved