What are minerals? What is its importance?...
Answers
Answered by
4
mineral is a naturally occurring
chemical compound, usually of
crystalline form and abiogenic in origin. A mineral has one specific
chemical composition. A mineral is different from a rock , which can be an aggregate of minerals or non-minerals and, therefore, does not have one specific chemical composition. The exact definition of a mineral is under debate, especially with respect to the requirement that a valid species be abiogenic, and to a lesser extent with regard to it having an ordered atomic structure. [citation needed]
The study of minerals is called
mineralogy . There are over 5,300 known mineral species; over 5,070 of these have been approved by the
International Mineralogical Association (IMA). The silicate minerals compose over 90% of the Earth's crust. The diversity and abundance of mineral species is controlled by the Earth's chemistry. Silicon and oxygen constitute approximately 75% of the Earth's crust, which translates directly into the predominance of silicate minerals.
Minerals are distinguished by various
chemical and physical properties . Differences in chemical composition and crystal structure distinguish the various species, which were determined by the mineral's geological environment when formed. Changes in the temperature, pressure, or bulk composition of a rock mass cause changes in its minerals.
Minerals can be described by their various physical properties, which are related to their chemical structure and composition. Common distinguishing characteristics include crystal structure and habit , hardness, lustre,
diaphaneity , colour, streak, tenacity ,
cleavage , fracture, parting, and
specific gravity . More specific tests for describing minerals include
magnetism, taste or smell,
radioactivity and reaction to acid.
Minerals are classified by key chemical constituents; the two dominant systems are the Dana classification and the Strunz classification. The silicate class of minerals is subdivided into six subclasses by the degree of
polymerization in the chemical structure. All silicate minerals have a base unit of a [SiO 4 ]4− silica tetrahedron—that is, a silicon cation coordinated by four oxygen anions, which gives the shape of a
tetrahedron . These tetrahedra can be polymerized to give the subclasses: orthosilicates (no polymerization, thus single tetrahedra), disilicates (two tetrahedra bonded together), cyclosilicates (rings of tetrahedra), inosilicates (chains of tetrahedra), phyllosilicates (sheets of tetrahedra), and tectosilicates (three-dimensional network of tetrahedra). Other important mineral groups include the native elements , sulfides , oxides, halides ,
carbonates, sulfates , and phosphates
chemical compound, usually of
crystalline form and abiogenic in origin. A mineral has one specific
chemical composition. A mineral is different from a rock , which can be an aggregate of minerals or non-minerals and, therefore, does not have one specific chemical composition. The exact definition of a mineral is under debate, especially with respect to the requirement that a valid species be abiogenic, and to a lesser extent with regard to it having an ordered atomic structure. [citation needed]
The study of minerals is called
mineralogy . There are over 5,300 known mineral species; over 5,070 of these have been approved by the
International Mineralogical Association (IMA). The silicate minerals compose over 90% of the Earth's crust. The diversity and abundance of mineral species is controlled by the Earth's chemistry. Silicon and oxygen constitute approximately 75% of the Earth's crust, which translates directly into the predominance of silicate minerals.
Minerals are distinguished by various
chemical and physical properties . Differences in chemical composition and crystal structure distinguish the various species, which were determined by the mineral's geological environment when formed. Changes in the temperature, pressure, or bulk composition of a rock mass cause changes in its minerals.
Minerals can be described by their various physical properties, which are related to their chemical structure and composition. Common distinguishing characteristics include crystal structure and habit , hardness, lustre,
diaphaneity , colour, streak, tenacity ,
cleavage , fracture, parting, and
specific gravity . More specific tests for describing minerals include
magnetism, taste or smell,
radioactivity and reaction to acid.
Minerals are classified by key chemical constituents; the two dominant systems are the Dana classification and the Strunz classification. The silicate class of minerals is subdivided into six subclasses by the degree of
polymerization in the chemical structure. All silicate minerals have a base unit of a [SiO 4 ]4− silica tetrahedron—that is, a silicon cation coordinated by four oxygen anions, which gives the shape of a
tetrahedron . These tetrahedra can be polymerized to give the subclasses: orthosilicates (no polymerization, thus single tetrahedra), disilicates (two tetrahedra bonded together), cyclosilicates (rings of tetrahedra), inosilicates (chains of tetrahedra), phyllosilicates (sheets of tetrahedra), and tectosilicates (three-dimensional network of tetrahedra). Other important mineral groups include the native elements , sulfides , oxides, halides ,
carbonates, sulfates , and phosphates
Similar questions