Minerals And Atomic Structure Atoms Composed Of Protons (+)

minerals and atomic structure atoms composed of protons (+) and neutrons (0) in the nucleus, electrons in electron cloud (-). isotopes

Minerals and Atomic Structure
Atoms composed of protons (+) and neutrons (0) in the nucleus,
electrons in electron cloud (-).
Isotopes are atoms with the same number of protons (same atomic #) but
differ in the number of neutrons (different atomic mass).
Ions-charged particles due to gain or loss of electrons. Occurs due to
the extra stability of filling the electron energy levels.
Molecules are combinations of atoms-ions bond together due to the
“opposite charges attract” idea.
MINERAL DEFINITION
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Naturally occurring
Inorganic
Solid
Definite Chemical Composition
Crystalline structure
Properties reflect these atomic properties
Mineral Properties
Color-only diagnostic in the sense of light vs dark color representing
whether the mineral is MAFIC (Fe and Mg rich) or FELSIC (Si, Al rich).
Many minerals demonstrate a wide range of colors due to trace amounts
of elements not part of the main mineral compound
Hardness-Moh’s hardness scale-resistance to scratching. Scale varies
from 1 (soft-talc and graphite) to 10 (diamond hard). Useful as a
discriminator of many minerals and reflects bonding type and other
properties
Graphite/Diamond example: graphite is very soft and has weak bonding,
while diamond is very hard due to its ionic (strong) bonding.
These minerals are POLYMORPHS of one another-same composition,
different mineral structure.
Cleavage-tendency for a mineral to break along the same planes of
weakness-reflects internal arrangement of atoms. Mica example-breaks
in sheets every time. Cleavage in silicate minerals reflects the
arrangement of the silicon-oxygen tetrahedral.
Other Properties-like magnetism, taste, smell, reaction to acid, are
useful for specific minerals.
Mineral Groups
Native elements
Oxides
Halides
Sulfides
Carbonates
Sulfates
and the main rock-forming minerals: SILICATES (based on SiO4
tetrahedron)
The way in which these tetrahedral are arranged determines the
minerals formed
Higher Temp of formation Olivene (isolated tetrahedral, no sharing)
More Fe and Mg, less Si
Less sharing of Oxygen
Pyroxene (single chain, share 1 O)
Amphibole (double chain share 2O)
Mica (sheets, share 3 O)
Feldspar (3-D framework, share 4 O)
lower temp of formation Quartz ( 3-D framework)
more Si, less Fe and Mg
more Oxygen shared
Properties of these minerals reflects how the tetrahedral are arranged
with one another.