focus on concepts
to assist you in learning the important concepts in this chapter, focus on the following questions:
1. What are minerals, and how are they different from rocks?
2. What are the smallest particles of matter?
3. How do atoms bond?
4. How do isotopes of the same element vary, and why are some isotopes radioactive?
5. What are some of the physical properties of minerals? How can these properties be used to disringuish one mineral from another?
6. what are the eight elements that make up most of earth's continental crust?
7. what is the most abundant mineral group?
8. what do all silicate minerals have in common?
9. what are renewable and nonrenewable resources?
10. when is the term ore used with reference to a mineral?