What makes up the layers?
So far I have introduced you the layers of the Earth. These layers are composed of rocks and minerals. We see rocks on the surface, and minerals as jewelry and fashion purposes, but what are they? This page will explain what these simple yet interesting substances.
Minerals and rocks
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Minerals are inorganic compounds with a unique crystal structure, and a chemical compound. The crystal structure is the arrangement of atoms in a compound. They are not derived from any living organism, but they are rather formed on the undergrounds.
Minerals form the base for rocks. Rocks are a mixture of several different minerals. This is evident when we look at a rock, we can see that it has different colors on its surface.
There are several properties common among the minerals.
Minerals form the base for rocks. Rocks are a mixture of several different minerals. This is evident when we look at a rock, we can see that it has different colors on its surface.
There are several properties common among the minerals.
- Crystal structure: Each mineral has its own unique arrangement of atoms, which forms their structure
- Color: All minerals have some kind of color, and some may be identified easily by color, but some cannot be done similarly.
- Streak: When a mineral is rubbed on a surface, it is called streak. Minerals produce a colored powder when they are rubbed, but the color of the powder may be different to its apparent color.
- Luster: Luster is the way a mineral's surface reflects light.
- Density: A mineral's density depends primarily on its own atomic mass. The higher the atomic mass, the more density the mineral mass. The term "specific gravity" is used to describe the ratio of a mineral's mass to a mass of a body of water of equal volume. This method is used to calculate a mineral's density.
- Hardness: This is not how hard a mineral is, but rather its resistance to scratching.
- Fracture: Fracture is a crack in the mineral.
- Quartz
- Amethyst
- Pyrite
- Galena
- Feldspar