SINGH_C_Minerals_Week1Project

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University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) *

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100

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Geology

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Apr 3, 2024

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docx

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GEOL 100 – Physical Geology - Week 1 – Authentic Project – Minerals 1 Knowledge Foundations: Minerals a) How many minerals have been discovered to date? More than 5,600 minerals have been discovered on Earth to date, with at least another thousand or more still awaiting discovery by mineralogists, the experts in this field (Estrada, 2021) . b) List the 5 conditions necessary for a substance to be classified as a mineral: i. Inorganic ii. Naturally Occurring iii. Solid at room temperature iv. Definite Chemical Composition v. Ordered internal structure References Estrada, C. (2021, June 7). 3.2 how to identify minerals . Dynamic Planet Exploring Geological Disasters and Environmental Change 2022. https://open.maricopa.edu/hazards2022/chapter/3-2-how-to-identify-minerals/ U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Minerals . National Parks Service. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/minerals.htm
GEOL 100 – Physical Geology - Week 1 – Authentic Project – Minerals 2 Research: Mineral a) Mineral Name : LEAD b) Chemical Properties of your Mineral 1. Mineral Chemical Formula (Chemical Composition): Lead is classed as a chemical element, a material of only one sort of atom. Pb (Plumbum) is the chemical symbol for it. 2. Which elements make up this mineral? Include element names and symbols. Lead is usually made up of the element lead, denoted by the chemical symbol "Pb." Lead minerals can take numerous forms but contain lead in diverse chemical combinations. 3. How many atoms of each element make up this mineral? Lead includes only one sort of atom, with an atomic number of 82 indicating that a lead atom has 82 protons in its nucleus. 4. Mineral Group (e.g., sulfides, oxides, silicates, etc.): Lead is a chemical element, not a mineral group. However, lead can be found in various mineral ores, including galena (PbS), Cerussite (PbCO3), Pyromorphite (Pb5(PO4)3Cl), and anglesite (PbSO4), which belong to the sulfide, carbonate, phosphate, and sulfate mineral groups respectively (MAT, 2023) . c) Physical Properties of your Mineral 1. Crystal System: As a chemical element, lead does not crystallize into a distinct crystal system. 2. Hardness: Lead has a Mohs scale hardness of 1.5. A fingertip can easily scratch it. 3. Luster: Lead has a metallic sheen, meaning it shines like metal.
GEOL 100 – Physical Geology - Week 1 – Authentic Project – Minerals 3 4. Specific Gravity (Density): Lead has a specific gravity of 11.34 g/cm3, making it relatively dense. 5. Formation (describe how these mineral forms in nature): Lead is commonly found in the Earth's crust as lead ores such as galena (PbS). These ores are primarily generated by hydrothermal processes in which lead minerals precipitate from hot, mineral-rich fluids that move through rocks. Weathering and the alteration of pre- existing lead-containing minerals can also result in the formation of lead minerals. d) Human Use 1. For which element(s) is(are) your mineral mined? The element mined from lead minerals is lead (Pb). 2. How do humans use the mined element(s)? Lead is found in nature, however, rarely in pure form, but in ores with other metals, the most abundant of which is galena (PbS) in the Earth's crust. Lead is formed naturally by the radioactive disintegration of uranium and thorium via radon ( 222 Rn ). There are four stable isotopes known: 204 Pb,   206 Pb,   207 Pb and   208 Pb , the first three of which are used to estimate the ages of rocks. Lead compounds exist primarily in +2 or +4 oxidation states, with the former being more prevalent (Acharya, 2013). 3. Is this element critical to humans? Do humans need this element? Explain your answer. Humans have been using lead for thousands of years for various purposes, including: 1. Versatility of Lead: Soft, malleable, and easy to work with.
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