Mineralogy Chapters 1-5
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Complete list of Terms and Definitions for Mineralogy Chapters 1-5

Terms Definitions
What are the characteristics of Feldspars? Hardness of 6, 90 degree cleavage, vitreous/glassy, often dull b/c altered, brittle, Plagioclase feldspar has twins perpendicular to B called polysynthetic twins.
What does a six fold rotoinversion mean? 3/m or a three fold axis perpendicular to a mirror plane
What is a coupled substitution? Ions of different charge and approx. same size substitute for each other, coupled with two other ions of different charge and approx. same size so that there is no change in charge.
What are the characteristics of Ionic bonds? electrostatic bonds between cations and anions (don't have the same charge but must balance) Ex. halite and fluorite. Medium to high hardness, tend to be brittle, not very good conductors b/c no free electron.
What is a pedion? One lonely plane
What are Alkali Feldspar twins called? Carlsbad twins. They are interlocking/interpenetrating twins.
What is a unit cell? The smallest unit that has the same overall symmetry
What are the characteristics of Van der Waals bonds? These are residual bonds. Ex. graphite, micas, native sulpher. Weak attraction btwn random dipoles in structure (top part of layer has a different charge than the bottom part of the layer), low hardness, good cleavage
What are the characteristics of Covalent bonds? Ex. diamond, has a tendency to share electrons so makes a very strong bond. Electron clouds overlap, very hard minerals, brittle, insulators.
What is a prism? Three or more parallel planes or faces
What does a three fold rotoinversion mean? A three fold axis and a center of inversion
What are the characteristics of the Hexagonal crystal system? C is perp. to the plane of a1, a2, a3a1 = a2 = a3 and does not = CThe angles btwn a1, a2, a3 is 120 degrees
What symmetry does the triclinic system have? None. 3 axes of different lengths and angles do not = 90 degrees. Possible symmetry is a one fold axis and a center of inversion
What are pyramid faces? Planes that intersect at a point or could if extended.
What are the characteristics of Monoclinic crystal systems? Ex. i, A2, mA is perp to BB is perp to CThe angle btwn A and C is obtuseA is not = to B is not = to C
How do you find the atom proportion? Take the weight percent and divide by the mol weight.
Name some types of Alkali Feldspars. Orthoclase, Microcline, Sanidine
What is the Earth's crust composition? Approx. 40 weight % Oxygen, 30% Silicon, Aluminum, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, Other.
How do you find the mol proportion? Take the weight percent and divide by the mol weight.
What are the formulas for Alkali Feldspars? K Al Si3 O8Na Al Si3 O8
What is a simple substitution? Two elements of similar size and the same charge.
What are the characteristics of Orthorhombic systems? 2/m, 2/m, 2/mA is not perp. to B is not perp. to CA is not = to B is not equal to C
What is a polymorph? A crystal with the same composition but different crystal structure. Ex. graphite and diamond.
What are the characteristics of Isometric minerals? 3 equal and perpendicular axes.A1=A2=A3A1 perp. A2 Perp. A3
What do parenthesis indicate in Miller indices? A crystal face
What symmetry does the monoclinic system have? Must have a 2 fold axis and/or a mirror plane
What are exsolution lamellae? These occur in slowly cooled plutonic alkali feldspars and are a result of a miscibility gap in which the melt cools to below the misc. gap temp and one type crystallizes out as lamellae and the other type crystallizes as the bulk mineral.
What symmetry does the Hexagonal system have? C axis is perpendicular to the plane of a1, a2, a3, where the angle btwn a's is 120 degrees. C axis is a 3 fold or bar 3 or a 6 fold or bar 6
What do brackets indicate in Miller indices? An axis or a line.
What are the characteristics of Tetragonal minerals? 4/m, 2/m, 2/mThree perpendicular axes, 2 of which are equalC-Axis can be greater or less than the other twoA1=A2 not= A3
Why to we study minerals? 1.) Help understand rocks, sediments, soils.2.) Anthropogenic reasons3.) Some minerals thought to be involved in pre-biotic synthesis
What are the symmetry aspects of plagioclase and microcline? These do not have a two fold axis or a mirror plane.
What is a dome? Two non-parallel faces symmetrical with respect to a mirror
What does a two fold rotoinversion mean? A mirror plane
How do we study minerals? 1.) Visual observation with simple equipment to observe physical properties2.) Optical microscope3.) X-Ray defraction4.) Chemical composition
What are minerals? Naturally occurring, solid, regular atomic arrangement, chemical compound, usually formed by inorganic processes
What are the characteristics of Quartz? Hardness of 7, conchoidal fracture, glassy/vitreous, brittle, striations on planes but not pyramid
What does a one fold rotoinversion mean? A center of inversion
What are the formulas for Plagioclase feldspars? Na Al Si3 O8Ca Al2 Si2 O8
What is a pyramid? Three or more faces that intersect at a point
What is a pinacoid? Two parallel faces
How do you find the normalization factor? Divide 5 by the total of the atom proportion column.
What are the symmetry aspects of Orthoclase and Sanidine? They have a two fold axis perpendicular to a mirror plane.
What are the 6 crystal systems? Isometric, Tetragonal, Orthorhombic, Monoclinic, Triclinic, and Hexagonal
What does mineral formation depend on? The initial composition of the melt and the temperature at which it crystallized.
How do you find the molecular (mol) weight? Take the mol weight from the periodic table and multiply by # of atoms and add all together.
What is a center of inversion? Every point is the same distance away from the center of inversion but on opposite sides.
What symmetry does the Isometric system have? 3 equal axes at 90 degrees4/m, bar 3, 2/m
How to you find the formula proportion? Multiply the atom proportion by the normalization factor.
What is a sphenoid? Two non-parallel faces symmetrical with respect to a 2 fold axis
What are the characteristics of triclinic systems? A is not = to B is not = to CNo axes at 90 deg. or 60 deg. or 120 deg. to each otherA one fold axis
What symmetry does the tetragonal system have? 3 perpendicular axes, 2 of which are equal. The axis that is not equal is C and C is either a 4 fold or a 4 fold rotoinversion axis.
How do you find the Miller indices? Take the intercepts of A, B, C. Then take the reciprocal of those values. Then clear fractions to find the plane.
What symmetry does the Orthorhombic system have? 3 perpendicular axes of different lengths. Each 2 fold axis is perpendicular to a mirror plane
What is Bowen's Reaction scale? (Highest Temp) Olivine, Pyroxene, Amphibole, Biotite, Ca-Rich Plagioclase Feldspar, Na-Rich Plagioclase Feldspar, Quartz, K-spar, muscovite mica (lowest temp)
What are the characteristics of metallic bonds? good conductors of heat and electricity, typically low hardness because have weak bonds, malleable, ductile, sectile, high specific gravity because of high atomic weight, cubic closest packing
How do you find the atomic proportion? Multiply the mol proportion by the number of atoms. EX. For Al2O3, take the mol prop. * 2 because there are 2 AL's.