GEOL107 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Silicate Minerals, Carbonate Minerals, Chemical Formula
26 Sep 2017
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Minerals - chapter 3 in physical geology today. Mineral is a naturally occurring homogeneous solid formed by geologic processes with an ordered internal arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules, and a composition definable by a chemical formula. Naturally occurring - no human made materials. Homologous means that a piece of a mineral contains same pure material throughout. Formed by geographic processes implies processes such as solidification or precipitation, which did not involve living organisms. However, many geologists now consider solid crystalline materials produced by organisms to be minerals too. Solid means minerals retain their shape indefinitely under normal conditions. Therefore liquids like oil and water and gases cannot by minerals. Ordered internal arrangement of atoms is an important characteristic that separates minerals minerals from substances that may fit all other parts of the definition. Atoms in minerals occupy positions in a grid called a crystalline structure.
