Core
• Definition: the inner part of the earth, full of hot liquid
• Inner core: solid nickel and iron, solid because it is under so much pressure; 800 miles thick; 13,000°F
• Outer core: liquid nickel and iron; 1,400 miles thick; 11,000°F
Inner Core
Outer Core
Crust
• Definition: the outside of the earth – the part we live on – all of the rocks and minerals that we know are found here
• 5 (under the oceans) - 25 (under the continents) miles thick
• 1,600°F at the deepest parts
Mantle
• Definition: the layer of earth below the crust
• 1,000-1,800 miles thick
• 8,000°F at the deepest parts
Mineral
• Definition: matter that is not plant or animal
• Rocks are made of these
• p. 239Pink Chalcedony
Sulfur (yellow)
Gypsum
Geologist
• Definition: a scientist who studies rocks and minerals
• Includes: volcanoes, earthquakes, specific rocks, rock formations, identifying new rocks, how the earth was formed
Appearance
• Definition: the way something looks to you
• Includes: color, luster, size, crystal structure
• p. 239Calcite (purple) on Fluorite (white/yellow)
Mesolite
Luster• Definition: the way a rock’s surface reflects
light
• Choices: metallic, nonmetallic, dull, pearly, glassy, greasy, silky
• p. 240
Dull
Greasy
Glassy (the rock, not the lichen)
Streak
• Definition: the color of a mineral in its powdered form
• BE CAREFUL: a mineral’s streak is NOT always the same as its appearance
• p. 240-241Bauxite
Nonmetallic• Definition: minerals that allow light to pass
through them, minerals with a dull appearance
• Includes: dull, pearly, glassy, greasy, silky
• p. 240Pearly GlassySilky
Hardness
• Definition: the ability to resist being scratched
• p. 240• We use the Mohs scale(1-10), created by
Fredrich Mohs (German geologist)Examples:
1 – fingernail scratches it easily6 – scratches glass easily10 – scratches every other mineral (hardest mineral – diamond)