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Questions for Thought
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1

What are the characteristics that make a mineral different from other solid materials of the earth? Is ice a mineral? Explain.
2

Describe the silicate minerals in terms of structural arrangement; in terms of composition.
3

Explain why each mineral has its own unique set of physical properties.
4

Identify at least eight physical properties that are useful in identifying minerals. From this list identify two properties that are probably the most useful and two that are probably the least useful in identifying an unknown mineral. Give reasons for your choices.
5

Explain how the identity of an unknown mineral is determined by finding out what the mineral is not.
6

What is a rock?
7

Describe the concept of the rock cycle.
8

Briefly explain the basic differences among the three major kinds of rocks based on the way they were formed.
9

Which major kind of rock, based on the way they formed, would you expect to find most of in the earth's crust? Explain.
10

What is the difference between magma and lava?
11

What is meant by the "texture" of an igneous rock? What does the texture of an igneous rock tell you about its cooling history?
12

What are the basic differences between basalt and granite, the two most common igneous rocks of the earth's crust? In what part of the earth's crust are basalt and granite most common? Explain.
13

Explain why a cooled and crystallized magma might have ferromagnesian silicates in the lower part and nonferromagnesian silicates in the upper part.
14

Is the igneous rock basalt always fine-grained? Explain.
15

What are clastic sediments? How are they classified and named?
16

Briefly describe the rock-forming process that changes sediments into solid rock.
17

What are metamorphic rocks? What limits the maximum temperatures possible in metamorphism? Explain.
18

Describe what happens to the minerals as shale is metamorphosed to slate, then schist, then gneiss. Is it possible to metamorphose shale directly to gneiss or must it go through the slate and schist sequences first? Explain.
19

What is the rock cycle? Why is it unique to the planet Earth?





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