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Definition
(mineral=mineral, ology= the study of)
minerals are the building blocks of rocks |
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Definition
| Geologists define a mineral as any nautrally occuring, inorganic solid that posesses an orderly crystalline structue and well defined chemical composition |
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| Naturally occurring minerals |
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Definition
| Minerals form by natural, geolgic processes. Consequentlly, synthetic diamonsa and rubies, as well as a variety of other useful materials produced in a laboratory are not considered minerals |
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| Minerals are solids within the temputure ranges normally experianced at earths surface, thus, ice (frozen water) os cpmsodered a mineral, whereas liquid water and water vapor are not |
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Term
| orderly crystalline structure |
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Definition
| minerals are crystalline substances, which mean their atoms are arranged in an orderly, repetitive manner. this orderly packing of atoms is refelected in the regularly shaped object we call crystals. some naturally occuring solids such as volcanic glass ( obsidian) lack a repetitive atomic structure and are not considered minerals. |
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Term
| well defined chemical composition |
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Definition
| most minerals are chemical compounds having compositions that are given by their chemical formulas. Therefore the chemical compostions of minerals may very within specific well defined limits |
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Definition
| inorganic crystalline solids as exemplified by ordinary table salt (halite) that are found naturally in the ground are considered minerals. organic componds on the other hand , are generally not |
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Definition
a rock is any solid mass of minera-like-matter that occurs naturally as part of our planet.
a few rocks are coposed of almost entirely of one mineral.
however most rocks occur as aggergate of several kinfs of minerals |
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Term
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Definition
All matter is composed of tiny building blocks called atoms. the smallest particles that can not be chemically split.
atoms inturn contain evan smaller particles protons ( + charged) neutrons ( - charge) located in a central nuclleus. |
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