Earth And Space Science

Chapter 25 : Minerals and How We Use ThemElements combine together to grade secernate minerals and minerals combine to diversity rocks . There atomic number 18 92 by nature occurring elements and with exception of a a couple of(prenominal) inert elements like funds , Platinum etc , they combine together to pee-pee as numerous as 4000 minerals . Out of this thumping number of minerals only roughly two 12s ar communal land (constitutes 99 of ball crust ) and these are composed of approximately a dozen elements . These rock relieve oneselfing elements can be sort in quintet groups - silicates carbonates , oxides and sulfates . In following sections we will soon describe these minerals , their defining and usageSilicates : Silicon is the 2nd most massive element neighboring to group O on the primer coat crust . It combines with oxygen to form a tetragonal heterogeneous SiO2 , which combines together to form a large tetragonal structure Besides , SiO2 combines with other surface oxides , to form their silicates Some examples of common silicates are Olivine , Pyroxene , Amphibole Micas , Feldspar etcCarbonates : Carbonates CO32- are linear molecules consisting of carbon and oxygen . These ions are arranged in the form of sheet in minerals like Calcite and DolomiteOxides : Metals react with oxygen to form their oxides . Some gravid oxide minerals are Hematite (Fe2O3 , magnetic iron-ore (Fe3O4 , Chromite (Cr2O3 , Cassiterite (SnO2 ) etcSulfides : These are coat-sulfur compounds . Some fundamental sulfide compounds are cognize as Pyrites like copper pyrites , Fools Gold etc . These minerals puzzle gold lusterSulfates : These are composed of metal ions and sulfate ions (SO42- These minerals piss lots no ore abide by to the date . However , these are utilise as compounds . sin gle authoritative sulfate mineral is Gypsum ! (CaSO4 .2H2OMineral organic law : Minerals form by crystallization and growth in a smooth-spoken . The liquid can be either a melted rock or an sedimentary etymon When temperature of a molten rock or magma falls below freezing insinuate of a mineral , the mineral crystallizes . Minerals do not have a sharp freezing point preferably they solidify over a range , dep conclusioning on their composing .

The starting to solidify is the one having highest solidification point and this is lechatelierite , subsequently other metal silicates solidify . Minerals solidifying towards the end have lowest solidification pointBesi des , minerals crystallize in aqueous solution as well . This happens when an aqueous solution having minerals at most temperature , becomes supersaturated due to change in temperature (generally cool trim , but sometimes heating as well . In case of mineral precipitation from an aqueous solution , what is important is solubility and not the melting point of the mineralProperties of Mineral : Minerals are characterized by some of their unique properties like Crystal form , callosity , Cleavage and Fracture Color , Specific sedateness etc . crystal form of a mineral depends on the innate arrangement of the parting atoms / ions . This leads to well developed faces of the crystal and is a very important clue of crystal identification . stiffness of a mineral depends on the bond strength of the chemical element atoms / ions . It is measured on Mohs scale (1 to 10 Higher Mohs hold dear implies higher hardness 10 is for diamond...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orde! rCustomPaper.com

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