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Plate tectonics
plate interactions
40
Geology
Undergraduate 1
09/22/2011

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Term
convergent
Definition
move toward each other
Term
divergent
Definition
move away from each other
Term
transform
Definition
side past one another
Term
triple junction
Definition
where three plates meet with various interactions
Term
hot spots
Definition
-stable over time
-don't move
-initates at the core mantle boundary
-rises up to the bottom of the lithosphere
-melts the lithosphere
Term
what drives Plate motion
Definition
-heat: convection at mantle
Term
What is a mineral
Definition
N- natural occuring
I-inorganic material
C-cryataline structure
E-electrically neutral with consistent chemical composition.
60 common minerals
Term
crystal form
Definition
external expression of the orderly internal arrangment of atoms
-if free to grow in it's own place most mienrals have distinctive shape
Term
luster
Definition
the way the mineral reflects light
Term
cleveage
Definition
tendency to break along a predefined plane of weakness
Term
color
Definition
color of the mineral
Term
streak
Definition
the color of a mineral in its powdered form; may be different from its overall color
Term
specific gravity
Definition
ratio of the weight of the mineral to the weight of an equal volume of water
Term
hardness
Definition
a minerals resistance to abrasion
Term
other ways to identify a mineral
Definition
taste, feel, smell, magnetism, chemical reaction, etc
Term
other ways to identify a mineral
Definition
taste, feel, smell, magnetism, chemical reaction, etc
Term
other ways to identify a mineral
Definition
taste, feel, smell, magnetism, chemical reaction, etc
Term
other ways to identify a mineral
Definition
taste, feel, smell, magnetism, chemical reaction, etc
Term
other ways to identify a mineral
Definition
taste, feel, smell, magnetism, chemical reaction, etc
Term
other ways to identify a mineral
Definition
taste, feel, smell, magnetism, chemical reaction, etc
Term
Moh's hardness scale
Definition
fingernails- hardness of about 2
penny- 3
stainless steel- about 5
porcelain- about 7
Term
structure of minerals
Definition
-determined by x-ray diffraction
-x-rays passing through a mineral grain are bent (like light through a prism)
-constructive and distructive interference patterns produce a pattern
-technique can measure distance between atoms and the size and shape of the electron cloud
Term
Mineral growth
Definition
grow by crystalization from magmas or from aqueous solutions
Term
mineral growth-additons of atoms to crystal face requires
Definition
-concentration of the particular of atoms that can be incorparated into the crystal lattice (depends mostly on size and charge)
-proper conditions for growth (temp, pressure, etc)
-form and structure remain the same during growth
-atoms are added along crystal faces, although some faces may grow faster than others
Term
stability ranges
Definition
minerals are only stable over a fixed range of pressure, temp, chemical conditiosns
-if a mineral is in equilibrium with it's enviroment than it is called stable
-stability of a mineral is dependent on its chemical composition and crystal structure
Term
metastable
Definition
a mineral that exists outside its stability range
Term
Major mineral groups
Definition
are all defined by ions with negative charge . native elements are pure only one element.
Term
Silicates
Definition
-most important mineral group
-95% of crust and mantle is silcates
-basic building block is silicon-oxygen tetrahedron which consist of one Si atom surrounded by 4 oxygen atoms.
-tetrahedron 4 charge
Term
silicate minerals
Definition
silicate tetrahedrons form minerals in two ways
1. the oxygen in the tetrahedra bond with other elements
2. the oxygens between adjacent tetrahedra are shared.
-the more oxygens that a silica tetrahedron shares, the lower its electrical charge, and so
Term
dividing silicate minerals
Definition
by chemical composition
-felsic- minerals rich in silicon and aluminum
-mafic: mineals rich in magnesium and iron
Term
quartz
Definition
most common mineral at Earth's surface
hard to break
Term
feldspars
Definition
most common mineral in the Earth's crust
-easy to break turns to clay in crust
Term
hornblende
Definition
common in mafic and felsic rocks
Term
augite
Definition
common in mafic and felsic rocks
Term
micas
Definition
common in igneous and metamorphic rocks
Term
olivine
Definition
major component of the mantle
Term
sulfides- metal ores
Definition
most sulfides are metal ores because it is easy to extract the metal
Term
smelting
Definition
heat the ore until the sulfer vaporizes, leaving metal behind.
Term
halides
Definition
contain members of the halogens
Term
carbonates
Definition
contain C032-
2nd most imporant element because they are the largest rock former outside of silicates. calcite most common. rhodochite- msot valuable. If you find this you will be rich
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