DNA properties identification Resources Formation

QUESTION: What is a mineral ANSWER: A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a defined chemical composition.

QUESTION: What does inorganic mean? ANSWER: The mineral cannot form from materials that were once part of a living thing.

QUESTION: What is a crystal structure? ANSWER: Particles of a mineral line up in a pattern that repeats over and over again.

QUESTION: What are some naturally occurring metals ANSWER: Copper, gold, and silver

QUESTION: What characteristic properties can be used to identify minerals? ANSWER: Color, streak, luster, density

QUESTION: A ________ of a mineral is the color of its powder. ANSWER: streak

QUESTION: __________ alone often doesn’t provide enough information to make a identification. ANSWER: Color

QUESTION: _________ is the mass in a given space over volume. ANSWER: Density

QUESTION: Is the term used to describe how light is reflected from a mineral’s surface. ANSWER: Luster

QUESTION: : No matter the size of a mineral the _______ always remains the same. ANSWER: Density

QUESTION: Is a hard, colorful mineral that has a brilliant or glassy luster. Valued for color, luster, durability, and the fact they are rare. ANSWER: Gemstone

QUESTION: Not as hard as gemstones. They are useful because they can be stretched into wire, flattened into sheets, and hammered or molded without breaking. ANSWER: Metals

QUESTION: Rock that contains a metal or other useful minerals that can be mined and sold at a profit is called an ANSWER: Ore

QUESTION: How can a geologist help mines? ANSWER: Geologist prospects study the rock on the surface and study maps of rock beneath the surface. Geologists can map the size and shape of an ore deposit by making careful measurements of Earth’s magnetic field over the deposit. This works really well for magnetic elements such as iron and nickel.

QUESTION: What are the three types of mines? ANSWER: Strip mines: equipment scrapes away soil to expose ore Open pit mines: equipment digs a pit and removes ore deposits Shaft mines: network of tunnels that extend deep underground following the veins of ore.

QUESTION: is a rounded, hollow rock that is often lined with mineral crystals. ANSWER: Geode

QUESTION: Minerals generally form two ways ANSWER: crystallization of molten material or crystallization of materials dissolved in water.

QUESTION: ____________ is the process by which atoms are arranged to form a material with a crystal structure. ANSWER: Crystallization

QUESTION: Magma closer to the surface cools faster. With more rapid cooling, there is no time for magma to form _____________ Rapid cooling = _____________ Slow cooling =_______________ ANSWER: Large, small, large

QUESTION: When elements and compounds that are dissolved in water leave a solution, ___________ occurs ANSWER: Crystallization

QUESTION: ___________ is when an ore is mixed with other substances and then melted to separate the useful metal from other elements the ore contains. ANSWER: Smelting

QUESTION: What is an alloy? ANSWER: a solid mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal. the mixture must have the characteristic properties of a metal.

QUESTION: How is steel made? ANSWER: After smelting iron a small amount of carbon may be added resulting in steel

QUESTION: _______ is a narrow channel or slab of a mineral that is different from the surrounding rock. ANSWER: Vein

QUESTION: ___________ is anyone who searches for an ore deposit. ANSWER: Prospector