Mineral Formation

Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Mineral Formation

Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Mineral Formation

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

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Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Mineral Formation• Growth depends on:

1) What atoms are available in the surrounding area

2) 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

Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Mineral Formation• Minerals can form in

various places1) Precipitation in hot

water-a solid forming in the

water2) From magma cooling3) From evaporation of water QuickTime™ and a

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Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Minerals 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

Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Minerals from Hot WaterThis 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.

Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Minerals 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

Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Minerals 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

Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Minerals from Magma• Magma = molten

rock found within the Earth

• As magma cools the atoms begin to arrange into an orderly structure

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Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Minerals from Magma• When the temperature

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

Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

Minerals 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

Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

The End

Mr. Thompson's Earth Science Class

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