Geology

What is Air? Air is the mixture of gases that forms the Earth's atmosphere. It consists primarily of: Nitrogen (~78%) Oxygen (~21%) Small amounts of other gases like argon, carbon dioxide, and trace gases. Air is essential for life on Earth, providing oxygen for breathing and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. What is Wind ? Wind is the movement of air in the Earth's atmosphere, typically caused by differences in atmospheric pressure due to variation in the temperature at different latitudes. How it forms : When the Sun heats the Earth's surface unevenly, it creates areas of high and low pressure. Air moves from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas, creating wind. Its velocity depends on the degree of temperature differences. Wind plays a crucial role in weather patterns, climate, and even geological processes like erosion and sediment transport. In simple terms: Air is what we breathe, and wind is moving air. Wind Erosion Wind erosion refers to the process where wind ...

The Quartz group of minerals primarily consists of quartz, tridymite, cristobalite, coesite, and stishovite. These minerals share the chemical composition SiO₂ but differ in their physical and structural properties due to variations in their crystal structure.  Below are physical properties of quartz: 1. Crystal System : Quartz: Hexagonal (trigonal subdivision)  Tridymite (Orthorhombic),  Cristobalite (Tetragonal). 2. Habit : Quartz crystals commonly form hexagonal prisms with pyramidal terminations. It also occurs in massive, granular, or cryptocrystalline forms (e.g., chalcedony, jasper). 3. Colour : Quartz is typically colourless or white. Impurities cause various colours: Amethyst: Purple Citrine: Yellow Smoky Quartz: Brown/gray Rose Quartz: Pink 4. Luster : Vitreous (glassy) on crystal surfaces. Waxy or dull in cryptocrystalline varieties. 5. Hardness : 7 on the Mohs scale, making quartz relatively hard and resistant to scratching. 6. Fracture & Cleavage : Q...