Earth’s Materials and

Resources
The Key Bio-chemical Cycle on Earth

1.Nitrogen Cycle
2.Carbon Cycle
3.Sulphur Cycle
 Nitrogen Cycle
-describes how nitrogen
moves between plants, animals,
bacteria, the atmosphere (the
air), and soil in the ground.
 -for nitrogen to be used by
different life forms on earth, it
must change into different states.
Nitrogen in air is N2, the other
important states of nitrogen
includes Nitrates(NO3), Nitrites
(NO2), and Ammonium (NH4).
 Processes in the Nitrogen Cycle

1.Fixation- bacteria change nitrogen into ammonium.

2.Nitrification- ammonium change into nitrates by
bacteria.Nitrates are what the plants can absorb.
3.Assimilation- how plants absorb the nitrogen.
4.Ammonification-this is part of the decaying process.
5.Denitrification-extra nitrogen in the soil gets put back
out into the air.
 Carbon Cycle

-All living things are made up of carbon.

Carbon is also a part of the ocean, air, and
even rocks. Because the earth is a dynamic
place, carbon does not stay still. It is on the
move.
 Sulphur Cycle

- the tenth most abundant element in the

universe, isa a brittle, yellow, taste less, and odor
less non metalis element.
-it comprises many vitams, proteins, and
hormones that play critical roles in both climate
and the healh of various ecosystem.
 Minerals
-are substances that are formed naturally
in the earth, it is usually solid, inorganic,
have a crystal structure, and form naturally
by geological processes.The study of minerals
is called mineralogy. A mineral can be made
of single chemical element or more usually a
compound.
 Mineral Properties
1.Luster- it is the quality and intensity of reflected light
exhibited by the mineral.
a.Metalic-generally opaque and exhibit a resplendent
shine similar to a polished metal
b.non-metallic-vitreous(glassy), adamantine
(brilliant/diamond like), resinous, silky, pearly, dull,
greasy,etc.
 2.Hardness- it is a measure of the resistance of
a mineral to abrasion

a.In 1812 German geologist/mineralogist

Friedrich Mohs designed the “Mohs Scale of
Hardness”. The test compare the resistance of a
mineral relative to the 10 reference minerals with
known hardness.
 3.Color and Streak- the streak of a
mineral is the color it displays in finely
powdered form. The streak maybe
completely different from the color of hand
specimen. One of the simpliest ways of
determining the streak of a mineral is to
rub a specimen across a piece of unglazed
porcelain known as a streak plate.
 4.Crystal form/habit- is the
characteristics external shape of an
individual crystal or crystal group. A
single crystal’s habit is a description of
its general shape and its
crystallographic forms, plus how well
developed each is. Recognizing the
habit may help in identifying a mineral.
 5.Cleavage- refers to the way some minerals break
along certain lines of weakness in their structure.
Mica is a good example,breaking along very closely
spaced flat planes that yield thin sheets.
 6.Fracture- if a mineral with cleavage is
chipped a certain way, it will fracture rather
than cleavage.
 7.Specific Graviy- also know as SG, is
measurement that determines the
density of minerals. Two minerals may
be thhe same size, but their weight may
be very different. The specific gravity of
a mineral determines how heavy it is by
its relative weight to water.
 8.Others-there are certain unique
properties of minerals that actually help
in their identification (magnetism, odor,
taste, tenacity, reaction to acid, etc.).
Magnetite is strongly magnetic, sulfur
has distinctive smell, halite is salty,
calcite fizzes with acid as with dolomite
but in powdered form.
The 7 types of Mineral
 1.Silicate- are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate
groups. They are the largest and most important class of
minerals and make up approximately 90% of earth crust.
 2.Oxides- minerals containing Oxygen anion
(O2) combined with one or more metal ions.
 3.Sulfates- minerals containing Sulfur and Oxygen
anion (SO4) combined with other ions.
 4.Sulfides-minerals containing sulfur anion (S2)
combined with one or more ions. Some sulfides are
sources of economically important metals such as
copper, lead and zinc.
 5.Carbonates- minerals containing the
carbonate anion (CO3) combined with other
elements.
 6.Halides- minerals containing halogen
elements combined with one or more
elements.
 7.Native Elements-minerals that form as
individual elementsa.
a.Metals and Inter-metals- minerals with high
thermal and electrical conductivity, typically with
metallic luster, low hardness (gold,lead)
b.Semi-metals- minerals that are more fragile
than metals and have lower conductivity(arsenic,
diamond)
c.Non metals- nonconductive (sulfur, diamond).
 ROCKS
-is a solid, Inorganic, naturally-formed
substance without a particular atomic
structure or chemical composition. It’s
probably easier to just remember that rocks
are made up of two or more minerals.
3 Types of Rocks
 Igneous Rocks
-rocks formed when magma cools and hardens.
Sometimes the magma cools inside the earth and sometimes
it erupts onto the surface from volcanoes. When lava cools
very quickly, no crystal form and the rocks looks shinny and
glass like. Sometimes gas bubbles are trap in the rock
during the cooling process, leaving tiny holes and spaces in
the rock.
Sample of Igneous Rocks

Basalt

Obsidian
Two Kinds of Igneous
Rocks
Plutonic or Intrusive Rocks

-from solidified magma underneath

the earth
-gradual lowering of temperature is
indicated by the movement of magma
from depth to surface causing slow
cooling/crystallization
Volcanic or Extrusive Rocks

-from solidified lava at or near the

surface of the earth
-fast rate of cooling/crystallization
due to huge variance in the temperature
between earth surface and underneath.
 Sedimentary Rocks
-are formed from particles of sand, shells,
pebbles, and other fragments of material,
together, all these particles called sediment.
Sedimentary rocks is fairly soft and may break
apart or crumble easily.You can often see sand,
pebbles, or stones in the rock, and it is usually
the only type that contains fossils.
 Sample of Sedimentary rocks

limestone

Conglomerate
Types of Sedimentary
Rocks
Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
-grains, matrix, and cement are the components of
clastic rocks
-clastic rocks are commonly classified based on
paricle size
-classic rocks with volcanic origin(e.g pyroclastics)
and may have undergone some stages in the
sedimentary processes could be classified as
sedimentary rocks (e.g. volcanoclastic)
Non-clastic Sedimentary Rocks
-evaporation and precipitation from solution or
lihfication of organic matter
-classified as evaporates (halite, gypsum, and
dolostone), precipitates (limestone) and bioclastic
(coal,coquina)
 Metamorphic Rocks
rocks formed under the surface of the earth
from the metamorphosis that occurs due to
intense heat and pressure.
The rocks that result from this process often have
ribbonlike layers and may have shiny crystals,
formed by minerals growing slowly over time, on
their sur-face.
Sample of Metamorphic Rocks
Marble

Genesis
 Contact Metamorphism

-
Rock Cycle