Term
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Definition
| The smallest particle that exists as an element. |
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Term
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Definition
| The number of proton in the nucleus of an atom. |
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Term
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Definition
| The average of the atomic masses of isotopes for a given chemical. |
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Definition
| The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding. |
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Term
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Definition
| A phenomenon of light by which otherwise identical objects may be differentiated. |
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Term
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Definition
| A substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements in definite proportions and usually having properties different from those of its constituent elements. |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical bond produced by the sharing of electrons |
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Term
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Definition
| Any natural solid with an ordered, repetitive atomic structure. |
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Term
Dark Silicates
or
Ferromagnesian Silicates |
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Definition
| Silicate minerals containing ions of iron and/or magnesium in their structure. They are dark in color and have a higher specific gravity than nonferromagnesian silicates. |
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Term
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Definition
| A negatively charged subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and is found outside an atom's nucleus. |
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Term
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Definition
| A substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical or physical means. |
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Term
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Definition
| Spherically shaped, negatively charged zones that surround the nucleus of an atom. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any break or rupture in rock along which no appreciable movement has taken place. |
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Term
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Definition
| A mineral's resistance to scratching and abrasion. |
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Term
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Definition
| An atom or molecule that possesses an electrical charge. |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of valence electrons from one atom to the other. |
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Term
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Definition
| Varieties of the same element that have different mass numbers; their nuclei contain the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. |
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Term
Light Silicates
or
Nonferromagnesian silicates |
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Definition
| Silicate minerals that lack iron and/or magnesium. They are generally lighter in color and have lower specific gravities than dark silicates. |
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Term
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Definition
| The appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral. |
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Term
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Definition
| The sum of the number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom. |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical bond present in all metals that may be characterized as an extreme type of electron sharing in which the electrons move freely from atom to atom. |
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Term
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Definition
| A naturally occurring, inorganic crystalline material with a unique chemical structure. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| A series of 10 materials used as a standard in determining hardness. |
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Term
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Definition
| A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. The neutron is electrically neutral, with a mass approximately equal to that of a proton. |
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Term
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Definition
| Atoms combine in order that each may have the electron arrangement of a noble gas; that is, the outer energy level contains eight neutrons. |
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Term
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Definition
| Two or more minerals having the same chemical composition but different crystalline structures. Exemplified by the diamond and graphite forms of carbon. |
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Term
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Definition
| A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. |
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Term
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Definition
| The spontaneous decay of certain unstable atomic nuclei. |
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Term
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Definition
| A consolidated mixture of minerals. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any one of numerous minerals that have the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron as their basic structure. |
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Term
| Silicon-oxygen Tetrahedron |
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Definition
| A structure composed of four oxygen atoms surrounding a silicon atom that constitutes the basic building block of silicate minerals. |
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Term
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Definition
| The ratio of a substance's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water. |
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Term
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Definition
| The color of a mineral in powdered form. |
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Term
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Definition
| The electrons involved in the bonding process; the electrons occupying the highest principal energy level of an atom. |
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Term
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Definition
1. Specific Composition
2. Orderly atomic arrangement
(naturally occurring - compounds usually)
(organic - solid) |
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Term
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Definition
1. Luster
2. Streak
3. Hardness
4. Color |
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Term
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Definition
Non-ferromagnesian --> low Fe, low Mg (Light)
1. Quartz
2. Plagioclase Feldspar
3. Potassium Feldspar (K-Spar)
4. Muscovite Mica |
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Term
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Definition
Ferromagnesian --> Fe, high Mg (Dark)
1. Biotite Mica
2. Amphibole
3. Olivine
4. Pyroxine |
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Term
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Definition
| Stripping of carbon from bonds. |
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