Mineral Formation

Mineral Formation

Part of Chapter 20-1Part of Chapter 20-1

Mineral FormationMineral Formation

• Mineral crystals grow as atoms are added to its surfaces, edges, or corners

• Mineral crystals grow as atoms are added to its surfaces, edges, or corners

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Mineral FormationMineral Formation

• Growth depends on:1) What atoms are available in the

surrounding area2) How fast atoms can migrate to the crystal3) Temperature and Pressure conditions of

the surrounding area • Slower cooling allows for bigger crystals• Different minerals crystallize from the same solution at

different temperatures. • Pressure conditions have to be right for mineral

formation

• Growth depends on:1) What atoms are available in the

surrounding area2) How fast atoms can migrate to the crystal3) Temperature and Pressure conditions of

the surrounding area • Slower cooling allows for bigger crystals• Different minerals crystallize from the same solution at

different temperatures. • Pressure conditions have to be right for mineral

formation

Mineral FormationMineral Formation• Minerals can form in various places

1) Precipitation in hot water-a solid forming in the water

2) From magma cooling3) From evaporation of water

• Minerals can form in various places

1) Precipitation in hot water-a solid forming in the water

2) From magma cooling3) From evaporation of water

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Minerals from Hot WaterMinerals from Hot Water

• Some minerals are made from hot-water solutions that are rich in dissolved mineral matter

• Example: Sugar will dissolve faster in hot water, but when the water cools, the sugar crystals will form again

• Some minerals are made from hot-water solutions that are rich in dissolved mineral matter

• Example: Sugar will dissolve faster in hot water, but when the water cools, the sugar crystals will form again

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Minerals from Hot WaterMinerals from Hot Water

• This is one of the principles of crystallization: as the temperature of a liquid drops, the amount of solid ingredients it can hold in suspension drops as well.

• This is one of the principles of crystallization: as the temperature of a liquid drops, the amount of solid ingredients it can hold in suspension drops as well.

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Minerals from Hot WaterMinerals from Hot Water• As the hot water

cools, the atoms slow down and the atoms within can then form bonds

• Minerals will often form around the edges of hot springs where the water is cooler

• As the hot water cools, the atoms slow down and the atoms within can then form bonds

• Minerals will often form around the edges of hot springs where the water is cooler

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Minerals from Hot WaterMinerals from Hot WaterMinerals also form in cracks of rocks where the

water is cooler from the surrounding rock-Cracks in rock become lined with mineral matterEx: veins can be found within rocks of concentrated

minerals like gold, silver, or copper

Minerals also form in cracks of rocks where the water is cooler from the surrounding rock

-Cracks in rock become lined with mineral matterEx: veins can be found within rocks of concentrated

minerals like gold, silver, or copper

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Minerals from MagmaMinerals from Magma

• Magma = molten rock found within the Earth• As magma cools the atoms begin to arrange

into an orderly structure

• Magma = molten rock found within the Earth• As magma cools the atoms begin to arrange

into an orderly structure

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Minerals from MagmaMinerals from Magma

• When the temperature of magma drops below the “solidification temperature” of a specific mineral, the crystals will begin to grow

• When the temperature of magma drops below the “solidification temperature” of a specific mineral, the crystals will begin to grow

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Minerals from EvaporationMinerals from Evaporation

• Minerals can form from water on the Earth’s surface

• When water evaporated from solutions rich in minerals, the minerals are left behind when the water is gone

• Minerals can form from water on the Earth’s surface

• When water evaporated from solutions rich in minerals, the minerals are left behind when the water is gone

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