MEA 101 Lecture 6: Module 3: Earth's Rock and Mineral Resources
21 Sep 2016
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Rock : a cohesive aggregate of one or more minerals. Mineral : a naturally occurring, inorganic solid made up of one or more elements; have a definite chemical composition and uniform atomic (crystalline) structure. Minerals in different parts of the earth. No rocks in outer core, molten iron and nickel mixture. Inner core dominated by solid, metallic iron, nickel. Silicon (si 4+ ) atom bonded with four oxygen (o 2- ) atoms [sio 4 . Silica tetrahedra combine together in different patterns in different tetrahedron) Minerals with low silica content share no or few oxygens and have simple structures (independent, chains) olivine, amphibole. Minerals with high silica content share more oxygen atoms and have more complex structures (sheets, framework) quartz, feldspar. Igneous rocks - formed from the cooling of magma or lava. Two main categories of igneous rocks are classified based on texture (grain size) and composition. Volcanic (extrusive) rocks - form when magma rises to.
