Introduction
Minerals are solid, naturally occurring substances that make up Earths outermost crust. They form via geological processes, meaning their properties and composition are determined by the environment in which they are found and the rocks and soil that surround them. They come in many varieties, all with different appearances, and many times their surfaces appear to be unusual and uneven. This unevenness can be due to a variety of factors, such as weathering, chemical processes, and percolation. All of these contribute to the forms and textures seen on mineral surfaces, which makes them not only visually interesting but also fascinating to study.
Weather Induced Surface Unevenness
Weather can have a profound effect on the surfaces of minerals, and this is due mainly to the breakdown of chemical bonds. Rain, snow and wind cause water and other substances to erode minerals and their surfaces, resulting in unevenness. This is especially true for those minerals found in higher and often less stable regions such as mountain tops. Water that penetrates to these regions can cause chemical reactions to occur which further break down mineral surfaces making them more susceptible to further weathering.
In addition to weathering, other weather induced factors can also contribute to surface unevenness. Mineral surfaces exposed to direct sun and extreme temperatures tend to react faster and in a less even fashion. This is due to the expansion and contraction that occurs naturally with minerals and the faster the rate of change, the more uneven the surface becomes.
Chemically Induced Surface Unevenness
The surface of minerals can also be affected by various chemical processes. All minerals contain some minerals in their composition and in some cases, when they come in contact with certain chemical agents, these minerals can be removed or rearranged thus causing changes in the surface of the minerals. For example, when iron contains magnetite, in contact with percarbonate, will be converted to iron hydroxide, thus creating an uneven surface on the mineral.
Moreover, the use of acids or alkalines can cause additional chemical reactions resulting in surface unevenness. This is because the properties of the acid or alkaline will change depending on the specific mineral composition, leading to differences in the surface. Additionally, surface differences can also occur with the introduction of bacteria which can induce chemical modifications to the surface.
Permeation Induced Surface Unevenness
Percolation is another factor that can affect the surface of minerals. As water or other liquid substances move through the surface of a mineral, the material present in
the liquid can interact with the mineral causing changes to take place. These changes can affect the structure and composition of the minerals thus making its surface more uneven. For example, very small amounts of a material such as silicon dioxide in the form of a colloidal suspension when percolating through soil can cause structural changes to underlying clay layers, resulting in an uneven surface above those layers.
Conclusion
Minerals can have many different appearances and often their surfaces appear to be unusual and uneven. This unevenness can be due to a variety of factors, such as weathering, chemical processes, and percolation. Weathering plays a big part in the breakdown of chemical bonds as well as increasing susceptibility to further weathering. Chemical processes also affect the surfaces of minerals, usually by removing or rearranging minerals in their composition. Finally, percolation occurs when water or other liquid substances move through the surface of a mineral, thus causing further changes in the structure and composition of the minerals, resulting in an even more uneven surface. Understanding these factors is an interesting and rewarding endeavor when it comes to studying mineral surfaces.
