Land and Its Resources
Land and Its Resources
Land and Its Resources
1. Minerals are the chemical substances that make up the rocks of the Earths crust. 2. A mineral is any solid element or compound that is found naturally in the earths crust.
6. Only small amount if minerals exist in the Earths crust as natural elements.
Natural element
Gold Silver Platinum Carbon -
Natural Content
Aluminium oxide Iron oxide Silicon dioxide Iron sulphide Tin oxide Copper carbonate Calcium carbonate Lead sulphide
China clay
Aluminium silicate
Iron phyrite consists mainly of iron and sulphur.The classic "Fool's Gold. The most often mineral, mistaken for real
Properties of Minerals
1. Each minerals has its own properties. 2. Different compositions of minerals generally possess the following properties: (a) Hardness
Diamond pencil
Properties of Minerals
(c) All minerals oxides, sulphides and carbonates are hard but the hardest mineral is the diamond.
(d) The hardness of minerals can be measured using Mohs scale. For example, quartz is hard (7 in Mohs scale) Mohs Scale of Hardness Hardness scale
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Will scratch glass
Quick test
Examples
Diamond Corundum Topaz Quartz Feldspar
Properties of Minerals
4. Solubility of minerals in water (a) Most minerals are insoluble in water. (b) Only oxides, sulphides and carbonates of potassium and sodium are soluble in water. (c) All the other compounds of oxides, sulphides and carbonates are insoluble.
Properties of Minerals
5. Action of heat on minerals
(a) It is possible to identify a mineral by studying the effects of heat on certain mineral compounds.
(b) Most metal oxides EXCEPT the less reactive mercuric oxide (cinnabar) are stable at high temperatures. They do not break down when heated.
(c) When heated, cinnabar or mercuric oxide, turns into mercury and releases oxygen.
Properties of Minerals
5. Action of heat on minerals (d)
When heated, sulphides break down to metal oxides and sulphur dioxide is released. This gas has an irritating smell.
Sulphur dioxide bleaches a solution of acidified potassium manganate (VII) solution. In the presence of sulphur dioxide, potassium manganate (VII) which is purple in colour turns colourless.
Properties of Minerals
5. Action of heat on minerals (e) When carbonates are heated, they break down to metal oxides and carbon dioxide is released. The carbon dioxide produces turns limewater cloudy.