CAS ES 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Petrified Wood, Diamond (Gemstone), Oil Reserves
12 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
A mineral is a naturally occurring solid with a highly ordered atomic arrangement and a definite (but not fixed) chemical composition usually formed by inorganic processes. An ore is a naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted. Properties of minerals controlled by types of atoms: Specific gravity, taste, smell, color, solubility in acid, fluorescence. Pyroelectricity and piezoelectricity-- the flow of electrons as a consequence of heat and pressure. Used for timing devices, infrared detectors, and imaging. Luster--the manner in which light is reflected (metallic or nonmetallic) Cinnabar-- mercury sulfide (dangerous; used to dissolve gold) Pyrite grows as cubes (1st sign there is more gold and not just fool"s gold) Hardness--useful for identifying minerals; relative scratchability (6 can"t scratch a 7, but a 7 can scratch a 6) One of the better physical properties of minerals. Minerals with strong covalent bonds are the hardest. Softest minerals have metallic or van der waals bonds.
