Maria Khazandra C.

Abonin Earth Science

XI – Pasiphae

Task A. Complete the table with the use of a Halite (table salt).

Mineral Name Halite (table salt)

Chemical composition NaCl (Sodium Chloride)

Luster 2.0-2.5 (Vitreous)

Hardness 2.0-2.5

The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also

be light blue, dark blue, purple, pink, red, orange,
Color yellow or gray depending on inclusion of other
materials, impurities, and structural or isotopic
abnormalities in the crystals.

Streak White

Crystal Form / Habit Cubic or often massive or granular

Cleavage Perfect cubic {100} or in three directions

Specific Gravity 2.1-2.2, or 2.16 specifically

Fracture: Conchoidal
Transparency: Transparent to Translucent
Taste: Salty
Other Properties
XPL (Cross-Polarized Light) = Isotropic
PPL (Plane-Polarized Light) = Colorless, non-
pleochroic, Low relief, Perfect cubic cleavage

Task B. List 5 minerals and their common uses

1. Antimony (Sn)
A native element: antimony metal is extracted from
stibnite ore and other minerals. Used as a hardening
alloy for lead, especially storage batteries and cable
sheaths; also used in bearing metal, type metal, solder,
collapsible tubes and foil, sheet and pipes and
semiconductor technology. Antimony is used as a
 flame retardant, in fireworks, and in antimony salts are used in the rubber, chemical and
textile industries, as well as medicine and glassmaking.

2. Copper (Cu)
Used in building construction, electric and electronic
products (cables and wires, switches, plumbing,
heating); transportation equipment; roofing; chemical
and pharmaceutical machinery; and alloys (brass,
bronze and beryllium alloyed with copper are
particularly vibration resistant); alloy castings;
electroplated protective coatings and undercoats for
nickel, chromium, zinc, etc. More recently copper is
being used in medical equipment due to its anti-microbial properties.

3. Lead (Pb)
Used in lead-acid batteries, gasoline additives (now
being eliminated) and tanks, and solders, seals or
bearing; used in electrical and electronic applications;
TV tubes and glass, construction, communications,
and protective coatings; in ballast or weights;
ceramics or crystal glass; X-ray and gamma radiation
shielding; soundproofing material in construction
industry; and ammunition. Industrial type batteries are used as a source of uninterruptible
power equipment for computer and telecommunications networks and mobile power.
Lithium Compounds are used in ceramics and glass; batteries; lubricating greases; air
treatment; in primary aluminum production; in the manufacture of lubricants and greases;
rocket propellants; vitamin A synthesis; silver solder; batteries; medicine. Lithium-ion
batteries have become a substitute for nickel-cadmium batteries in handheld/portable
electronic devices.

4. Silver (Ag)
Used in coins and medals, electrical and electronic
devices, industrial applications, jewelry, silverware,
and photography. The physical properties of silver
include ductility, electronics conductivity,
malleability, and reflectivity. Used in lining vats and
other equipment for chemical reaction vessels, water
distillation, etc.; a catalyst in manufacture of ethylene;
mirrors; silver plating; table cutlery; dental, medical, and scientific equipment; bearing
 metal; magnet windings; brazing alloys, solder. Also used in catalytic converters, cell
phone covers, electronics, circuit boards, bandages for wound care and batteries.

5. Tungsten (W)
Tungsten occurs in many alloys, which have numerous
applications, including incandescent light bulb
filaments, X-ray tubes, electrodes in gas tungsten arc
welding, superalloys, and radiation shielding.
Tungsten's hardness and high density make it suitable
for military applications in penetrating projectiles.
Current uses are as electrodes, heating elements and
field emitters, and as filaments in light bulbs and cathode ray tubes. Tungsten is
commonly used in heavy metal alloys such as high-speed steel, from which cutting tools
are manufactured. It is also used in the so-called 'superalloys' to form wear-resistant
coatings. When mixed with metals like copper, iron, and silver, tungsten alloys are used
to make products like turbine blades, heat sinks, armaments, ballasts, weights, control
vanes, deflector shields, and other high-density items. Tungsten mixed with copper and
silver is often known as tungsten-based infiltrated metals.

Task C. Research on 3 rocks (one for each rock type with pictures).
Include the following:
1. history of formation
2. common environment of formation
3. common textures
4. common use of the rock

Sedimentary Rock – Breccia

Sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the accumulation or deposition of mineral
or organic particles at Earth's surface, followed by
cementation. Sedimentation is the collective name
for processes that cause these particles to settle in
place.

History of Formation: Breccia forms where

broken, angular fragments of rock or mineral
debris accumulate. One of the most common
locations for breccia formation is at the base of
an outcrop where mechanical weathering debris
accumulates. Another is in stream deposits a short distance from the outcrop or on an alluvial
fan.

Common Environment of Formation: At the base of an outcrop where rock breaks by the
mechanical weathering and accumulates at a place.

Common Textures: Clastic (coarse-grained). It is composed of large angular fragments (over

two millimeters in diameter). The spaces between the large angular fragments are filled with a
matrix of smaller particles and a mineral cement that binds the rock together.

Common Use of the Rock: Names such as "Breccia Oniciata," "Breccia Pernice," and "Breccia
Damascata" are cut and polished limestones and marbles that reveal a broken, angular pattern.
These breccias are used as architectural stones for interior building veneers, tiles, windowsills,
and other decorative applications. These are proprietary names applied to the rock from specific
quarries. It can be used as fill or road base where the technical requirements are minimal. It is
rarely used in important projects because its composition, degree of cementation and competence
are highly variable.

Metamorphic Rock – Schist

Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock to new types of rock in a
process called metamorphism. The original rock is subjected to temperatures greater than 150 to
200 °C and, often, elevated pressure of 100 megapascals or more, causing profound physical or
chemical changes.

History of Formation: During metamorphism, rocks

which had been firstly sedimentary, igneous, or
metamorphic are converted into schists and gneisses. If
the composition of the rocks was firstly similar, they
may be very tough to differentiate from one another if
the metamorphism has been excellent. A quartz-
porphyry, for example, and a quality grained feldspathic
sandstone, may additionally both be transformed into a
gray or crimson mica-schist.

Common Environment of Formation: Schists are

mostly the Precambrian ages rocks. It usually occurs the regional metamorphism of existing
rock. These are usually sedimentary or sometimes igneous rocks. It could therefore be found
where eroded mountains reveal the rock, or in areas of glacial deposition of eroded schist.

Common Textures: Foliated, Foliation, Schistosity Texture

Common Use of the Rock: It is used in building houses or walls because it is strong and
durable. Previously, it was used to make decorative rock walls but now, it is used as a decorative
stone as well as for jewelry. In Australia, houses that were built using schist in the 1800s are still
standing today. On the other hand, Mica Schist is a remarkably interesting rock. Some uses for
this rock are decorative rock wall, pillars, paint fillers, and roofing material.

Igneous Rock – Pumice

Igneous rock, or magmatic rocks are formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or
lava. The magma can be derived from partial melts of existing rocks in either a planet's mantle or
crust.

History of Formation: Pumice forms when super-

heated, pressurized molten rock violently erupts from a
volcano. Gases dissolved in magma (mainly water and
carbon dioxide) form bubbles when pressure suddenly
decreases, in much the same way carbon dioxide bubbles
form upon opening a carbonated drink. The magma
swiftly cools, producing a solid foam.

While pumicite may be produced by crushing pumice, it

also occurs naturally. Fine-grained pumicite forms when
magma containing a high concentration of dissolved gases suddenly depressurizes and cools.

Common Environment of Formation: Any violent volcanic eruption may produce pumice, so
it is found worldwide. Pumice is also common on many North Island beaches. It originates in the
volcanic region. Washed down rivers to the sea, it is carried by longshore currents, and cast up
on the beach in storms.

Common Textures: Vesicular - Pumice is an exceptionally fine grained (often the grains are not
visible by naked eye), light colored, light weight, highly vesicular acidic volcanic glass. The
stone has an abrasive side for rougher skin and a softer side for more sensitive areas or buffing.

Common Use of the Rock: Pumice are used for stone-washed jeans, as an abrasive, to retain
moisture in horticulture, for water filtration, and to manufacture cement. These are used as
personal skin exfoliants. Stone-washed jeans are made by washing the denim with pumice rocks.
The Greeks and Romans rubbed the rocks on their skin to remove unwanted hair. Because the
rocks retain water, they are valued in horticulture to grow cacti and succulents. Ground pumice is
used as an abrasive in toothpaste, polishes, and pencil erasers. Some types of chinchilla dust bath
powder consist of pumice powder. The powder is also used to make cement, filter water, and
contain chemical spills.
 Bibliography

https://www.thoughtco.com/pumice-rock-
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%20have%20occurred.

https://geologyscience.com/rocks/metamorphic-rocks/schist/

https://geology.com/rocks/breccia.shtml

https://geologyscience.com/rocks/breccia/

https://www.britannica.com/science/breccia