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A speleothem (/ ˈ s p iː l i ə θ ɛ m /; from Ancient Greek σπήλαιον (spḗlaion) 'cave' and θέμα (théma) 'deposit') is a geological formation made by mineral deposits that accumulate over time in natural caves. [1] Speleothems most commonly form in calcareous caves due to carbonate dissolution reactions. They can take a ...
Minerals are distinguished by various chemical and physical properties. Differences in chemical composition and crystal structure distinguish the various species. Within a mineral species there may be variation in physical properties or minor amounts of impurities that are recognized by mineralogists or wider society as a mineral variety.
Minerals in soils are found in two types; primary and secondary. [5] "A primary mineral has not been altered chemically since its crystallization from a cooling magma." [5] Additionally, a primary mineral is defined as a mineral that is found in soil but not formed in soil, whereas secondary minerals are formed during weathering of
The kaolinite-serpentine group consists of T-O stacks (the 1:1 clay minerals); their hardness ranges from 2 to 4, as the sheets are held by hydrogen bonds. The 2:1 clay minerals (pyrophyllite-talc) consist of T-O-T stacks, but they are softer (hardness from 1 to 2), as they are instead held together by van der Waals forces.
1.4 Physical characteristics. 1.5 Chemical and isotopic characteristics. ... soils on anorthosite have a dominance of 1:1 clay minerals ...
Physical characteristics include colour, texture, grain size, and composition. [1] [2] [3] Lithology may refer to either a detailed description of these characteristics, or a summary of the gross physical character of a rock. Examples of lithologies in the second sense include sandstone, slate, basalt, or limestone. [4]
Rocks are composed primarily of grains of minerals, which are crystalline solids formed from atoms chemically bonded into an orderly structure. [4]: 3 Some rocks also contain mineraloids, which are rigid, mineral-like substances, such as volcanic glass, [5]: 55, 79 that lack crystalline structure. The types and abundance of minerals in a rock ...
Some "minerals" are essential for life, but most are not. [1] [2] [3] Minerals are one of the four groups of essential nutrients; the others are vitamins, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids. [4] The five major minerals in the human body are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium. [2]