1-2 Assignment

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Southern New Hampshire University *

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PHY103

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Geology

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Jan 9, 2024

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1. What is the formal definition of a mineral? Be sure to highlight at least two segments of the definition and translate the definition segments into more common language to facilitate proper understanding. The formal definition of a mineral is “any naturally occurring inorganic solid that possesses and orderly crystalline structure and a definite chemical composition that allows for some variation” (Lutgens, et.al., 2021). In other words, a mineral is an untouched by humans’ substances made up of atoms that are arranged in a repetitive manner such as ice and crystals. 2. Identify at least two physical properties (streak, fracture, etc.) of a mineral while using examples of common minerals that prominently feature those properties. Provide links or screenshots of the discussed minerals to illustrate the highlighted properties. Also, explain what mineral group it belongs to and why. Two physical properties of a mineral are color and tenacity. Some common minerals that feature these properties are fluorite, quartz, and halite. These minerals belong to the silicate and the nonsilicate. Quartz belong to the silicate family, fluorite and halite belong to the nonsilicate family. Quartz belongs to the silicate family because it consists entirely of silicon and oxygen. Silicate minerals contain silicon and oxygen (Lutgens, et al., 2021). Fluorite and halite are considered nonsilicate minerals because they are both made up of negative ions. Nonsilicate minerals belong to one of the three classes of minerals the carbonates, the sulfates, and the halides. (Lutgens, et al., 2021).

3. Describe at least one type of rock (igneous, sedimentary, etc.), how that type forms, and at least one subtype (extrusive, sandstone, etc.) of that rock and how it develops. Find an example online and provide links or screenshots of the rock subtype. Your example should illustrate the most identifiable characteristics of that particular rock type. One type of rock is igneous rock. This type of rock forms when molten rock cools and solidifies. Molten rock solidifies either beneath the surface or at the surface following a volcano eruption (Lutgens, et al., 2021). One example of a subtype of an igneous rock is extrusive rocks which develop on the surface from lava (National Geographic Society, 2022).

4. Explain the rock cycle starting with the primordial molten earth and progressing through the development of different rock types and subtypes, and back, over time. Magma forms by melting occurring primarily within the Earth’s crust and upper mantle. The magma then rises to the surface, then molten rocks cool and solidify, then become igneous rocks. Igneous rocks go through weathering and the loose materials that come from the weather move downslope and are picked up by water, glaciers, wind, or waves. The rock particles and dissolved substances are eventually deposited in places such as the ocean, floodplains, desert basins, lakes, inland seas, and sand dunes. Sediments undergo lithification in which they turn into sedimentary rocks. Sedimentary rocks react to the environment and turn into metamorphic rocks. If the metamorphic rock is subject to higher temperatures, it may melt and turn into magma. The cycle then starts all over (Lutgens, et al. 2021). 5. Explain what soil is—its makeup, physical properties, and classifications. Soil is a material made up of minerals, living organisms, soil organic matter, gas, and water (Needelman, 2013). Some physical properties of soil are color, texture, structure, porosity, density, and temperature. There are 12 major soil texture classifications. Those classifications are sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, silt loam, silt, sandy clay loam, clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay, and clay (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 2023).

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Works Cited Igneous Rocks | National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Education.nationalgeographic.org. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/igneous-rocks/ Lutgens, F. K., Tarbuck, E. J., & Tasa, D. G. (2021). Foundations of Earth Science (9th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780135851616 Soil classification - Minnesota Stormwater Manual. (n.d.). Stormwater.pca.state.mn.us. https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Soil_classification#:~:text=The%20United %20States%20Department%20of Needelman, Brian A. (2013). The Nature Education Knowledge Project. What Are Soils? https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/what-are soils67647639/#:~:text=soil %20%2D%201 .

1-2 Assignment

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