Geology

  1. Minerals: The Building Blocks of Rocks
    1. Definition of a Mineral
      1. Criteria for Minerals
        1. Naturally Occurring
          1. Inorganic
            1. Solid
              1. Definite Chemical Composition
                1. Ordered Internal Structure
                2. Differences from Rocks
                  1. Mineraloids
                  2. Crystal Structure and Symmetry
                    1. Crystal Systems
                      1. Cubic
                        1. Tetragonal
                          1. Orthorhombic
                            1. Hexagonal
                              1. Trigonal
                                1. Monoclinic
                                  1. Triclinic
                                  2. Crystal Forms and Habits
                                    1. Symmetry Elements
                                      1. Miller Indices
                                      2. Physical Properties for Mineral Identification
                                        1. Crystal Form
                                          1. Euhedral Crystals
                                            1. Anhedral Crystals
                                            2. Luster
                                              1. Metallic Luster
                                                1. Nonmetallic Luster
                                                  1. Vitreous
                                                    1. Pearly
                                                      1. Silky
                                                        1. Resinous
                                                          1. Earthy
                                                        2. Color
                                                          1. Idiochromatic Color
                                                            1. Allochromatic Color
                                                              1. Causes of Color Variations
                                                              2. Streak
                                                                1. Streak Plate Test
                                                                  1. Significance in Identification
                                                                  2. Hardness
                                                                    1. Mohs Scale
                                                                      1. Relative Hardness Testing
                                                                        1. Absolute Hardness
                                                                        2. Cleavage and Fracture
                                                                          1. Types of Cleavage
                                                                            1. Perfect Cleavage
                                                                              1. Good Cleavage
                                                                                1. Poor Cleavage
                                                                                2. Cleavage Directions
                                                                                  1. Fracture Patterns
                                                                                    1. Conchoidal Fracture
                                                                                      1. Uneven Fracture
                                                                                        1. Splintery Fracture
                                                                                      2. Specific Gravity
                                                                                        1. Density Measurements
                                                                                          1. Measurement Techniques
                                                                                          2. Other Properties
                                                                                            1. Magnetism
                                                                                              1. Taste
                                                                                                1. Feel
                                                                                                  1. Reaction to Acid
                                                                                                    1. Fluorescence
                                                                                                      1. Phosphorescence
                                                                                                        1. Radioactivity
                                                                                                          1. Electrical Properties
                                                                                                        2. Mineral Chemistry
                                                                                                          1. Atomic Structure
                                                                                                            1. Elements and Compounds
                                                                                                              1. Atomic Bonding
                                                                                                                1. Crystal Lattices
                                                                                                                  1. Unit Cells
                                                                                                                  2. Chemical Bonding
                                                                                                                    1. Ionic Bonds
                                                                                                                      1. Covalent Bonds
                                                                                                                        1. Metallic Bonds
                                                                                                                          1. Van der Waals Forces
                                                                                                                          2. Chemical Substitution
                                                                                                                            1. Solid Solution
                                                                                                                              1. Isomorphism
                                                                                                                                1. Polymorphism
                                                                                                                              2. Major Mineral Groups
                                                                                                                                1. Silicates
                                                                                                                                  1. Silicate Structures
                                                                                                                                    1. Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron
                                                                                                                                      1. Framework Structures
                                                                                                                                        1. Sheet Structures
                                                                                                                                          1. Chain Structures
                                                                                                                                            1. Isolated Structures
                                                                                                                                            2. Ferromagnesian Silicates
                                                                                                                                              1. Olivine
                                                                                                                                                1. Pyroxenes
                                                                                                                                                  1. Augite
                                                                                                                                                    1. Enstatite
                                                                                                                                                    2. Amphiboles
                                                                                                                                                      1. Hornblende
                                                                                                                                                      2. Biotite
                                                                                                                                                      3. Non-ferromagnesian Silicates
                                                                                                                                                        1. Feldspars
                                                                                                                                                          1. Orthoclase
                                                                                                                                                            1. Plagioclase
                                                                                                                                                            2. Quartz
                                                                                                                                                              1. Muscovite
                                                                                                                                                                1. Clay Minerals
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Kaolinite
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Montmorillonite
                                                                                                                                                                2. Non-Silicates
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Carbonates
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Calcite
                                                                                                                                                                      1. Dolomite
                                                                                                                                                                        1. Aragonite
                                                                                                                                                                        2. Oxides
                                                                                                                                                                          1. Hematite
                                                                                                                                                                            1. Magnetite
                                                                                                                                                                              1. Corundum
                                                                                                                                                                                1. Spinel
                                                                                                                                                                                2. Sulfides
                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Pyrite
                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Galena
                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Sphalerite
                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Chalcopyrite
                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Sulfates
                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Gypsum
                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Anhydrite
                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Barite
                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Halides
                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Halite
                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Fluorite
                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Sylvite
                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Native Elements
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Gold
                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Silver
                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Copper
                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Sulfur
                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Diamond
                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Graphite
                                                                                                                                                                                                                2. Phosphates
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Apatite
                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Mineral Formation and Occurrence
                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Crystallization from Magma
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  1. Cooling and Solidification
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    1. Fractional Crystallization
                                                                                                                                                                                                                    2. Precipitation from Solution
                                                                                                                                                                                                                      1. Evaporation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1. Chemical Precipitation
                                                                                                                                                                                                                        2. Changes in Temperature and Pressure
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1. Metamorphic Processes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            1. Phase Transitions
                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Biological Processes
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              1. Biomineralization
                                                                                                                                                                                                                              2. Weathering and Alteration
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1. Secondary Minerals

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                            2. Earth's Interior Structure and Composition

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                            4. The Rock Cycle and Igneous Rocks