1. identify common rock forming minerals

2.  The geology of a given area, particularly the rocks and minerals, plays a large role in the local environment.  Rocks and minerals break down to form soils.  The minerals and nutrients in a particular soil influences what sorts of plants and therefore animals will occur in an area.

3.  Most rocks are formed from one or more minerals.  Minerals are inorganic substances with specific physical and chemical properties.  Minerals can be used to identify rocks and soils.

4.  Approximately 95% of minerals are silicates which contain silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) atoms bonded together. Oxygen (46%) and silicon (28%) are the two most abundant elements in the Earth’s crust.  Carbonates contain CO 3 molecules.  Sulfates contain S0 4 molecules, sulfides contain elemental sulfur (S).  Oxides of iron and aluminium are relatively common, e.g. haematite.

5.  Hardness: is the ability to resist scratching. Diamond has a hardness of 10, talc has a hardness of 1 (Moh’s scale of hardness).  Lustre: describes the way a mineral reflects light, e.g. dull, vitreous (shiny)  Colour: some minerals (e.g. quartz) can be variable in colour, however some minerals (e.g. olivine) can have consistent colour

6.  Cleavage: refers to how a mineral naturally breaks or splits. Cleavage can occur in one, two or three planes (see fig. 3.2.4, p. 132).  Density: is the objects mass divided by it’s volume, usually in g/cm 3.  Texture: refers to the size of crystals in a mineral, small crystals will feel smooth, larger crystals will usually feel rough.

7.  Email or submit by 9am Monday 7/2/11  Questions 1,3,4,8 on p. 131.  Questions 1,2,3,5,6,9 on p. 133.