ESSC 108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Crystal Habit, Big Bang, Phosphorescence
Document Summary
What is a mineral: the building block of rocks. Solid (ice is a mineral, but water is not: two most important properties of a mineral. Cannot be broken down by ordinary means: eighty-eight naturally occurring elements in earth"s crust, eight elements make up 98% Oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium: a few elements are minerals (gold, silver, most are comprised of two to five elements. Many can vary a little in their components. Crystalline nature of minerals: crystal- any substance whose atoms are arranged in a periodic, repeating pattern. Unit cell: smallest group of atoms making up the unique pattern: crystal face- flat surface occurring when a crystal grows freely. Some minerals tend to break along flat surfaces: fracture. The way a mineral breaks other than cleavage: hardness- mohs hardness scale. Obvious, but of limited use: streak. The manner in which a mineral reflects light: other properties. Reaction to acid, magnesium, radioactivity, fluorescence, phosphorescence.
