How Are Minerals Formed?
HOW ARE MINERALS FORMED? MINERALS are naturally occuring, inorganic solids, with a characteristic chemical composition, having a regular atomic structure throughout. Man-made industrial diamonds are not considered true minerals. Having said that, there are also some Organic Minerals, such as Amber. Purists are reluctant to call organic minerals minerals, but they satisfy at least three of the criteria for inorganic mineral makeup, and therefore the point is open to debate. How Many Minerals are there? There are about 4000 listed minerals on this planet but only a relatively few have gained popularity due to their pleasing apperance, often bizarre shapes, exquisite spectrum of colours, and trading value. Minerals are generally composed of more than one element or compound. Those which are made up of only one element are called Native Elements e.g. gold, silver, mercury, copper. The Conquistadores fell in love with New World gold and "liberated" it by the ship-load to fill the coffers of Government and Church in Spain. Silver too, along with Topaz, Tourmaline, Agate, Ruby, Diamond and many other precious rocks and minerals, have been highly prized for as long as Man was first enchanted by their beauty, commercial value and status it imparted to the wearer. So, just how are minerals formed? Minerals can be formed in a wide variety of geological environments; deep inside volcanos, at the bottoms of deep oceans, deserts, salt lakes and cooling deep deposits of molten rock. Also, under the influence of heat and or pressure, when solutions and gasses holding concentrations of specific elements cool or evaporate, minerals growths are deposited inside rock fissures or voids. These minerals are sometimes forced through as a suspension in water, the water then evaporating leaving the mineral deposits as crystals (e.g. Amethyst) when the rock void is not fully filled or as Agates, when the rock is completely filled. These minerals are only visible when the rock is split open; it takes some skill to decide which rock to crack open! More about that later. An example of such crystal and mineral specimens for collectors are Geodes which are round rocks containing precipitated mineral salts, these being comomonly Agates (caused by mineral salt crystals forming inside Basalt rocks), Amethysts, Quartz, Jasper. Minerals don't necessarily need heat or pressure to be formed; water saturated with mineral salts can leave deposits (Stalactites) as it drips down from the roof of a cave, forming corresponding Stalagmites directly below, over the centuries, where the drips hit. Eventually both grow to meet each other and thicken over the years. Sometimes, as a novelty, tourists can hang an item on a line at a cave, over which calcium carbonate saturated water runs; over a period of a few months it becomes encased in a hardening deposit of Calcium Carbonate. THE THREE TYPES OF ROCK.
Ok, the basic scene has been set, now let's examine in more detail the different mechanisms involved in mineral formation. All minerals are formed from ROCKS, which are an aggregate or mixture of various minerals and are the basic materials from which a mineral is formed.
Rocks can be either:
Igneous - formed due to volcanic activity from the Earth's core.
Metamorphic - formed because of pressure or heat (e.g. tectonic plates colliding) on existing rocks, changing them into another type of rock.
Sedimentary - resulting from the layered compaction of weathered rock materials and/or shells.
Let us examine these rocks a little further:-
IGNEOUS ROCKS(from the Latin ignis - fire) can be further categorised as being
Related News
Outtakes: Your best shot - Salt Lake Tribune
Oklahoma outdoors notebook - NewsOK.com
Oklahoma outdoors notebookNewsOK.com, OK -17 hours ago•Outdoors exhibit: A hunting and fishing exhibit, "The Great Outdoors,” is currently on display at the Edmond Historical Society and Museum, ... |
Outdoors events - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Outdoors eventsPittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA -20 hours agoSaturday -- Urban photography hike with Venture Outdoors, Strip District, 10 am Cover a two-mile stretch of one of Pittsburgh's most interesting areas. ... |
Salsa Fever outdoors tonight! - Modern Ghana
Salsa Fever outdoors tonight!Modern Ghana, Ghana -8 hours agoBy Jacquiline Afua Bondzie - Ghanaian Chronicle The ability of Salsa to create social interaction in a non-pressured environment is perhaps the underlying ... |
HOPE Outdoors offers youth hunt - Searcy Daily Citizen
HOPE Outdoors offers youth huntSearcy Daily Citizen, AR -7 hours agoHOPE Outdoors still have four openings for their Arkansas Youth Whitetail Hunt on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. Hunters need to between ages of 8 to 15 for this event. ... |
Outdoors calendar - Dallas Morning News
Outdoors calendarDallas Morning News, TX -Sep 3, 20086 –JC Outdoors Lake Fork Team Trail Spring Championship and fall season opener (Minnow Bucket Marina). 214-773-5451 or www.bassintips.com/jcoutdoors. ... |
Outdoors report - Houston Chronicle
Outdoors reportHouston Chronicle, United States -18 hours agoBy BINK GRIMES and WILKENS WEATHER For the Chronicle Bull redfish are fair to good on crabs and finger mullet around the rocks and in the channel on the ... |
Fair poll: Support for outdoors, arts amendment - Morris Sun Tribune
Fair poll: Support for outdoors, arts amendment - Morris Sun Tribune
Fair poll: Support for outdoors, arts amendmentMorris Sun Tribune, MN -2 hours agoNearly 50 percent of those participating in the 2008 House of Representatives State Fair Poll support raising the state’s sales tax by three-eighths of 1 ... |
OUTDOORS CALENDAR - Hartford Courant
OUTDOORS CALENDARHartford Courant, United States -17 hours agoMail to Courant Sports/outdoors calendar, 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT 06115, fax to 860-241-6600 or e-mail to sports@courant.com. |
|
|
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Going it Alone: The Waterfall at Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska
I stood at the observation point on the balcony at the Visitor Center overlooking the great Mendenhall Glacier at Juneau, Alaska. Before me was a beautiful scene. The glacier reflected in the large lake. Ooh, ahh. Both to the left and right were mountains. It was a beautiful clear day. I watched the people too, walking around taking photos, and looking at the scenery before us and at the displays in the center, just a few feet away.
Trekking Poles And Walking Sticks
Are walking sticks longer than trekking poles? What about hiking staffs and hiking sticks? Whatever you call them, and whatever their differences, they are supposed to help your knees more than anything. This they do very well, at least when you're going downhill.
Lake Jipe straddling Tanzania and Kenya
So unknown is this treasure of Lake Jipe not many Tanzanians know of its existence or location. Sandwiched between the Pare mountains and Kilimanjaro this small lake [30 km sq] straddles the border between Kenya and Tanzania. This lake has a many water birds and is one of the few places in East Africa that the Lesser Jacana and Purple Gallinule are common. Also Madagascar Squacco Herron, Black Herron, African Darter and African Skimmer are often seen here.
The Great Outdoors is to be Explored and Loved in all its fullness
The thing with enjoying the great outdoors is seeing aspects of life that you do not normally see during your normal weekly activities. The familiar sea breezes, the smells of spring flowers, the winter winds, fantastic views from mountain tops and so much more.
Penguin Parade
Phillip Island is a small island and nature reserve off the coast of South Australia, about 140 km from Melbourne. On the island you can see koalas, kangaroos and the main to attraction, the Penguin Parade on Summerland Beach.
Going it Alone: The Waterfall at Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska
I stood at the observation point on the balcony at the Visitor Center overlooking the great Mendenhall Glacier at Juneau, Alaska. Before me was a beautiful scene. The glacier reflected in the large lake. Ooh, ahh. Both to the left and right were mountains. It was a beautiful clear day. I watched the people too, walking around taking photos, and looking at the scenery before us and at the displays in the center, just a few feet away.
Shark Attacks! How Common are They? Where do They Occur?
Last week in Australia, one man's day at beach could have turned into a disaster: He was attacked by a seven-foot bronze whaler shark while surfing about 100 yards out from Sydney's Bronte Beach.
Yachats, OR: An Outdoor Lovers Paradise on the Oregon Coast
There is something about a town tucked between the
mountains and the sea. Often, it feels like one has reached
the far end of the world when he or she arrives in a place
like this. Some well-known examples are Bar Harbor, Maine
and Big Sur, California. I have been to Bar Harbor and
nearby Northeast Harbor, and indeed, these towns do have
a special feel to them, with beautiful mountains on one side
and sparking ocean on the other.
Calculate Food Quantities for Camping and Outdoor Recreation
As the warmer weather approaches, we look forward to another
season of camping and enjoying the fun, relaxation, and beauty
that the outdoor environment has to offer. I am anxious to get out on weekends to some of my favorite campsites around Kentucky
and Indiana. Of course I'll have plenty of fishing gear to bring along in case some of my family or friends join in on the adventures that are sure to come with each outing. This is the most enjoyable thing for me when I see others having a great time hiking, fishing, throwing Frisbees?, or sitting around the campfire telling stories or singing campfire songs.There are several things I try to consider before I begin packing for
a camping trip. First of course, is how long will I be gone? How
much time do I have to get away from the "9 to 5", unwind and get
refreshed by the fresh air, sunshine, and peaceful scenery that nature provides so abundantly? This summer, I'm going to try to get out more frequently on the weekends so I'll talk a little about short outings that are not too distant from home. This will allow me more time for what I actually want to do, and that of course, is to camp. I don't want to spend 5 hours going and 5 hours coming, using basically a whole day just for traveling. If I pick a place that's within a 100 mile radius, I should be able to find several dozen places to visit and spend less than 4 hours of total travel time.Ok, that sound great, I can think of a dozen places within 100 miles right of the top of my head. Lake Monroe, where my youngest son and I visited last year, is only 1 hour and 45 minutes from my home. That was a great weekend camping trip and my daughter and her friends at IU came from Bloomington to join in the fun. Several of the girls had not fished much at all, and I had more fun than they did watching them scream and holler as we caught over 70 bluegill. It was a great thrill for them to actually catch, clean, and eat fresh fish. Most of the panfish were a little on the small side, but I had them keep them for several reasons. One of course, is the fish sometimes swallow the hook and it's nearly impossible to throw them back when this happens. Another reason I sometimes keep small bluegill, is that it helps other aquatic life to have more abundant food sources. Anyway, after we cleaned them all, they were absolutely delicious dipped in a bowl of egg and milk, rolled in cracker crumbs and cornmeal, and fried to a golden brown. And of course we had several bags to take home, which seemed like it made the camping trip last longer than just the weekend.But let's get back to some of the essentials of planning your weekend camping trip. After you've decided on how much time you have, you will need to consider how many nature lovers are going camping. That's usually the easy part. So if you've got 5 people going, and you're going to be gone for two nights and two days, you'll want to figure how many meals that will be. I'd say it will be in the neighborhood of 2 dinners, 2 breakfast, and 2 lunches, not including snack times. So we'll need enough food for 10 people (5 x 2) for essentially one day. That should calculate to an average of 8-10 ounces of meat per person, 8-10 ounces of vegetables and fruit per person, and 8-10 servings of bread or grains per two persons. You can also use the 8-10 rule for your drinks for a total of 8-10, (8-10 oz.
drinks) including water, per person per day. This may seem like a lot of liquid, but when you consider 3 meals a day and an additional drink in between, you are already at 6 drinks a day. Remember, dehydration is a major cause of heat stroke. If you're going hiking, swimming, or playing any type of running sport, this will easily bring the drink count up an additional 3 or more for a total of 9 drinks a day. Let's make an easy formula to go by.---------------------------------------------------------------------------FOOD QUANTITY FORMULA5 people for 2 days = (5 x 2 = 10)10 x 8-10 ounces = (80-100 ounces meat) or 5-6 lbs.10 x 8-10 ounces = (80-100 ounces fruits and veggies) or 5-6 lbs.8-10 servings bread or grain per (2) persons8-10 (8-10 oz. drinks) per person (per day)NOTE: Hard cheeses such as American and Swiss include in meat weight.Soft cheeses such as cultures add to fruits and vegetables weight.Eggs may be separate.---------------------------------------------------------------------------So that's a pretty good rule of thumb to go by for your "3 squares." If you like to snack, which goes great with camping, bring along your chips, marshmallows, or no bake cookies and you'll never go hungry. Don't forget the milk if your bring chocolate.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Boston Vacations: Four Ways To Experience Beantown
Boston is a great destination city for a vacation. There's plenty on tap to see and do, and it's an easy city to get around on foot. And you'll find Boston vacations a refreshing mixture of old and new.
The Price of Gas Really Doesnt Matter!
"The good news is that there is no reason to cower in the corner of your RV trying to avoid the gasoline bogeyman," asserts Carol White, author of Live Your Road Trip Dream ? Travel for a year for the cost of staying home. "While none of us are thrilled about the new reality of gas prices, this is not a reason to cancel your travel plans, particularly if you are planning that dream trip of a lifetime."
Three Places to Interact with Dolphins in Hawaii
Visitors to Hawaii frequently see dolphins from shore or on a whale-watching cruise or fishing boat. Visitors sometimes happen to be in the water snorkeling or kayaking when a pod of dolphins swims by. Some visitors even seek out dolphins, either by frequenting areas where dolphins live and play, like Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island, or by taking a boat tour that frequents areas where dolphins live and play.
River Rafting in the Grand Canyon
Rafting through the Grand Canyon is the experience of a lifetime. Viewing the canyon from along the rim is a stunning experience on its own, but it pales in comparison to the adventure of riding the river through it. Several river recreation outfitters offer guided rafting tours through the Grand Canyon.
Bicycling Down The River
My river-rafting adventure started on a bicycle. The small daypack I wore carried a hatchet, a saw, some scraps of rope, food, water, a garbage bag bivy sack, a hat, and odds and ends. It weighed less than fifteen pounds total.
Camping - Get Those Tents Up!
Have you ever thought you might like to try a totally different vacation? Is the cost of your vacation this year a problem? Did you know that a week long Camping Vacation for a family of four can work out to under a $1000.
Visiting the Last Paradise on Earth ? Costa Rica
I've been traveling and writing about places I believe others would love to visit, to unwind from their busy and hectic schedules. Most recently I visited Costa Rica, a place which can be best described as one of the last paradises on earth. The last paradise on Earth?
Creative Camp Cooking - Part 2
In a previous article, I wrote primarily about box ovens. With this article, we will consider a couple of other ideas that can also make your camping meals fun and enjoyable.
My Five-Ounce Sleeping Bag
Okay, it wasn't quite a sleeping bag. However, it was only five ounces, and it kept me warm as the temperature dropped to the low forties on the bank of the Manistee River in Michigan. The secret was the fifteen minutes we spent gathering dead, dry bracken ferns to build a two-foot thick mattress. We set the tent on that. Then, with all my clothes on, I was fine.
7 Need to Know Campsite Cooking Strategies
Are you sick and tired of not knowing what to bring or what to cook when you go camping? Do you either pack the entire kitchen (including the sink) or you bring the absolute minimum and then have to use a fork as a spatula or two spoons as tongs?
Camping and Outdoor Activities: Get Involved with Nature
Camping mixed with outdoor activity is a great way to get ourselves involved with nature. National Parks can provide an excellent backdrop for some of your outdoor activities. Activities such as hiking, fishing, cycling, horseback riding, white water rafting and kayaking, skiing, rock climbing and mountaineering are just a few of the sports you might want to include on your camping adventure
|