GEOL 104 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Silicate Minerals, Conchoidal Fracture, Crystal Habit
21 Oct 2016
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Chapter 2: minerals mineral: a naturally occurring, homogeneous solid, with a definite (but generally not fixed) chemical composition, and an ordered atomic arrangement. Usually inorganic rock: any solid mass of mineral or mineral-like matter that occurs naturally as part of our planet. Most occur as aggregates of different minerals (retain chemical & physical properties) Aggregate: joined in such a way that properties of each mineral is retained. E. g. volcanic rocks = noncrystalline glass (obsidian), organic matters (coal) Orderly array of atoms chemically bonded to form a particular crystalline structure = regular shapes of crystals ionic compounds: internal atomic arrangement determined by size of ions. Stable when each cation is surrounded by largest number of anions that will fit, while maintaining overall electrical neutrality polymorphs: 2 or more minerals with the same chemical composition but different physical characteristics (different geometric arrangements of elements) May transform due to temperature & pressure.
