What Is a Mineral?
Identifying Minerals
Mining & Uses
Igneous Rock Basics
Classifying Igneous Rocks
100
What are the four main criteria that define a mineral?
Naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, definite chemical composition and crystalline structure
100
What simple property describes the color a mineral appears to the eye?
Color
100
What is a mineral ore?
Rock that contains valuable elements that can be mined for profit
100
What are igneous rocks made from?
Cooled and hardened magma or lava
100
What are the two main compositional groups of igneous rocks?
Felsic and mafic
200
Why isn’t coal considered a mineral?
It’s made from ancient plant matter—so it’s organic
200
What is luster, and what are the two main types?
The way light reflects from a surface; metallic and nonmetallic
200
What is the most expensive mineral in the world and why?
Jadeite; because of its rarity and beauty
200
What is magma called when it reaches Earth’s surface?
Lava
200
Which type of igneous rock is light-colored and rich in silicon and aluminum?
Felsic
300
Why isn’t obsidian a true mineral?
It lacks a crystalline structure
300
What’s the difference between cleavage and fracture?
Cleavage splits along flat planes; fracture breaks irregularly
300
What is the process of removing ores from the ground called?
Mining
300
What kind of texture forms when lava cools very quickly?
Glassy (no crystals)
300
Which type of igneous rock is dark-colored and rich in iron and magnesium?
Mafic
400
What does it mean if a mineral has a “consistent chemical composition”?
The ratio of elements is always the same everywhere the mineral is found
400
What is the Mohs Hardness Scale used for?
Ranking minerals by how easily they can be scratched
400
What happens to ores after mining?
They are sent to factories for processing/refinement
400
What kind of texture results when magma cools slowly underground?
Coarse-grained
400
Match the rock type: Granite, Gabbro, Basalt, Rhyolite — which are coarse or fine-grained?
Granite & Gabbro = coarse; Basalt & Rhyolite = fine
500
Why is brass not classified as a mineral even though it’s solid and shiny?
It’s human-made (not naturally occurring)
500
What test involves hydrochloric acid and shows bubbles when calcite is present?
The acid (effervescence) test
500
How are minerals used differently depending on their properties?
Strong ones are used in construction; beautiful ones are used in jewelry
500
What’s the difference between intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks?
Intrusive form underground (slow cooling); extrusive form on surface (fast cooling)
500
What type of texture has visible gas bubbles trapped in the rock?
Vesicular texture