Questions and Answers of Earth Materials Introduction To Mineralogy And Petrology

How can you tell from Stokes’ law (Box 9.5) that grain size is more important than density in determining settling rates? Box 9.5 Crystal Settling and Stokes' Law The terminal velocity of a
The molar enthalpies of formation of the two polymorphs of Al2SiO5, kyanite and andalusite, at standard temperature and pressure (STP), are −2593.1 and −2588.8 kJ, respectively. If one mole of
What is the most abundant element obtained from Earth materials in our body, and what function does it play there? What are some other important elements that our bodies derive from the Earth?
What makes a soil fertile?
Why is it necessary to add fertilizer to land that is heavily cultivated? What elements must be added?
To which mineral group does erionite belong?
Where in the world is there a clear connection between abundant exposure to erionite dust and mesothelioma?
This erionite was formed as an alteration product of what volcanic material?
What is meant by the adjective asbestiform?
What six minerals are part of the federally mandated definition of asbestos?
What is meant by aspect ratio?
What are the structural differences between chrysotile and members of the amphibole group?
How do the chemical compositions of chrysotile and crocidolite differ?
Which of the six minerals in the definition of asbestos is the most carcinogenic?
What asbestos mineral made up about 95% of all asbestos insulation inside buildings?
In what country is chrysotile asbestos still being mined?
Long-term occupational exposure to quartz dust leads to what pulmonary disease?
Arsenic, even in very small concentrations in the soil, can cause serious health problems. Why is arsenic causing widespread poisoning in Southeast Asia?
What steps could you take to avoid the hazards posed by radon gas in your house?
What is the most serious problem associated with the use of nuclear power, and how might it be solved?
The burning of fossil fuels increases the CO2 content of the atmosphere. Describe ways to remove this greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.
What types of volcanoes pose the greatest hazard? Which are more dangerous, ash falls or ash flows?
How can you recognize an ancient lahar?
How is interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) used to monitor volcanoes from satellites?
How might you recognize an ancient tsunami deposit?
What evidence found on the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary indicates that the mass extinction at this boundary may be related to meteorite impact?
Sedimentary rocks can be divided into three main groups. What are these groups, and what are the main rock types in each?
What are siliciclastic sedimentary rocks, and from what type of sediment are they formed?
What simple test allows you to determine whether mudrock contains silt- or clay-size particles?
What makes shale fissile?
What destroys fine-scale laminations in mudrocks?
What determines the color of mudrocks?
How do rip-up clasts form?
Where do the thickest mudrocks occur, and what plate tectonic significance do such deposits have?
What features indicate that a sandstone is chemically and texturally mature?
What are the differences between quartz arenite, feldspathic arenite, and litharenite?
What bedding differences distinguish feldspathic arenite from wacke, and what does this tell you about the site of deposition?
What is the difference between a clast-supported and a matrix-supported conglomerate, and what do these rocks tell you about the environment of deposition?
Why are mudrocks, sandstones, and conglomerates commonly interlayered in fluvial deposits?
What conditions favor the growth of calcareous organisms that form limestone, and what restrictions does this place on their sites of deposition?
How do we classify carbonate sedimentary rocks?
How would you distinguish carbonate cement from an allochem or calcareous mud?
What is the connection between the enormous amount of chalk formed during the Cretaceous Period and plate tectonics?
What are the three main types of coal, and which releases the most heat upon combustion?
What three types of rock are needed to form an oil field?
What is the difference between porosity and permeability?
What are some typical traps in which oil reservoirs may form?
What is the sequence of precipitation of evaporite minerals from seawater as it evaporates?
What is the probable source of phosphorus in phosphorites?
What is banded iron-formation and what must happen to it to make it iron ore?
Staurolite is monoclinic in symmetry but is commonly referred to as pseudo orthorhombic. Why?
What metamorphic minerals develop in calcium carbonate-rich bulk compositions?
How would you define the term metamorphic mineral?
List six very common metamorphic minerals and/or mineral groups.
What metamorphic minerals are common in Al-rich bulk compositions?
What type of amphibole (name and composition) might you expect in a metamorphosed iron-formation?
What are the acronyms for the two major compositional series of the garnets?
How were the acronyms for the two major groups of garnet arrived at?
What are some of the commercial uses of garnet?
What are the structural differences among the three polymorphs of Al2SiO5?
Which of the three polymorphs of Al2SiO5 is indicative of high-pressure metamorphism at low to moderate temperature?
What is chiastolite?
What is the compositional difference between diopside and augite?
Give some examples of light beige to brown amphiboles.
Dark-green actinolite closely resembles dark-green hornblende. What are the main compositional differences between the two?
What is the most common amphibole asbestos?
Rhodonite is commonly recognized by its pink color. What is another Mn-containing pink mineral?
The crystal structure of talc, a layer silicate, is said to be trioctahedral. What is meant by that?
What are some of the commercial uses of talc?
What is chrysotile?
Cordierite is classified as a ring silicate. What is meant by that?
Among all the minerals listed as metamorphic only one is an oxide. What is its name and composition?
The oxide referred to in question 23 forms very high-end gemstones. Which are they?Data from question 23Among all the minerals listed as metamorphic only one is an oxide. What is its name and
What is metamorphism, and what are the main factors that cause it?
What is the difference between regional metamorphic rocks and contact metamorphic rocks?
What major constituents are lost during prograde regional metamorphism and what important roles do they play?
What are metamorphic index minerals and how do they relate to isograds?
What is a metamorphic mineral facies, and how is it used to determine metamorphic grade?
What is a metamorphic facies series?
What causes most rocks to become coarser-grained during metamorphism and are there exceptions?
Why do contact metamorphic rocks known as hornfels commonly consist of polygonal grains that are bounded by faces that intersect at ~120°?
What evidence indicates rocks can lose material during the development of metamorphic foliation?
Starting with the triangular diagram indicating the stable mineral assemblages in any divariant field in Figure 15.19 work your way clockwise around the diagram until you come back to the starting
Although the rock name mylonite comes from the Greek word for a “mill,” the finegrain size of this rock is not due to breaking and grinding of grains. What causes mylonite to be extremely
What is a petrogenetic grid, and how can it be used to determine the conditions under which a metamorphic rock formed?
The Thompson projection is a convenient way of showing pelitic mineral assemblage in terms of Al2O3-FeO-MgO. From what mineral is the projection made, and what other minerals must be present in the
Why does migmatite formation normally put a cap on metamorphic temperatures?
What are Fe-Mg exchange reactions, and how are they used as geothermometers?
Why do metamorphic rocks in some young mountain belts occur in paired metamorphic belts, with a high-pressure, low-temperature belt nearest the subduction zone and a low-pressure, high-temperature
Which five chemical elements are found in the native state, namely as native elements?
Three of the native elements are referred to as native metals. These have unusual physical properties. What are these, and what type of chemical bond do these properties reflect?
Diamond is one of the above five native elements. What is its hardness and what is the bonding type that causes the hardness?
What is the meaning of F in this notation? Explain the arrangement of the carbon atoms.
What do 41 and d, respectively, represent?
What are the two main uses of diamond?
What are the two main ore minerals for lead and zinc? Give their names and formulas.
What are the two copper sulfides described in this chapter? Give their names and formulas.
The foregoing three Cu-Fe sulfides commonly occur together in hydrothermal vein deposits. What is meant by the phrase “of hydrothermal origin”?
We described two additional metallic, gray minerals. One is a sulfide and the other a sulf-arsenide. Give their names and formulas.
What is the name of the Earth material that is the main source of aluminum? Explain its makeup with names and formulas.

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