Unit 13 mineral groups

Task 1. Read and memorize the following words:

manufacture - виробництво, виготовлення; обробка; процес виготовлення	extensively- широко
exclusive - винятковий, особливий; ексклюзивний	in order of abundance – у порядку чисельності (розповсюдження)
halide - галоїдна сполука, галід	vast - великий, величезний, численний, значний, величезний
heading - заголовок	sulphate - сульфат, сіль сірчаної кислоти
mutually - обопільно, взаємно; спільно

Task 2. Transcribe and translate the following words: aluminium, potassium, magnesium, silicon, silicate, wire, sulphate, constituent.

Task 3. Read the following text, translate it into Ukrainian.

Over 4000 minerals have been named, and several new ones are identified each year. Fortunately, for students who are beginning to study minerals, no more than a few dozen are abundant! Collectively, these few make up most of the rocks of Earth’s crust and, as such, are often referred to as the rock-forming minerals. Although less abundant, many other minerals are used extensively in the manufacture of products and are called economic minerals. However, rock-forming minerals and economic minerals are not mutually exclusive groups. When found in large deposits, some rock-forming minerals are economically significant. It is worth noting that only eight elements make up the vast majority of the rock-forming minerals and represent more than 98 percent (by weight) of the continental crust. In order of abundance, they are oxygen (O), silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg). Silicon and oxygen are by far the most common elements in Earth’s crust. Furthermore, these two elements readily combine to form the basic “building block” for the most common mineral group, the silicates. More than 800 silicate minerals are known, and they account for more than 90% of Earth’s crust. Because other mineral groups are far less abundant in Earth’s crust than the silicates, they are often grouped together under the heading nonsilicates. Although not as common as silicates, some nonsilicate minerals are very important economically. They provide us with iron and aluminum to build our automobiles, gypsum for plaster and drywall for home construction, and copper wire that carries electricity and connects us to the Internet. Some common nonsilicate mineral groups include the carbonates, sulfates, and halides. In addition to their economic importance, these mineral groups include members that are major constituents in sediments and sedimentary rocks.

Task 4. Answer the following questions, using the vocabulary from Task 1.

1. How many minerals have been named by the scientists so far?

2. What minerals are called rock-forming minerals?

3. What minerals are called economic minerals?

4. Do rock-forming minerals and economic minerals form mutually exclusive groups?

5. Which rock-forming minerals are economically significant?

6. What elements make up the vast majority of the rock-forming minerals?

7. What elements are the most common elements in Earth’s crust?

8. What group of minerals is considered to be the most common mineral group?

9. How many silicate minerals are known on Earth?

10. Why are nonsilicate minerals very important economically for people?

Task 5. Complete the following sentences from the text in Task 3.

1. When found …, some rock-forming minerals are economically significant.

2. oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium make up the vast majority of … minerals.

3. More than 800 silicate minerals are known, and they account for more than … percent of Earth’s crust.

4. Some common nonsilicate mineral groups include …, …, … .

5. … include members that are major constituents in sediments and sedimentary rocks.

Task 6. Find English equivalents for the following (see the text). Try to build up your own sentences with them.

Розпочати вивчення мінералів; складати більшість гірських порід земної кори; породоутворюючі мінерали; виробництво продукції; обопільно важлива група; найбільш поширені елементи у земній корі; поєднуватись для того, щоб утворити основний структурний блок; набагато менш розповсюджений; забезпечувати; будівництво будинків (житла); проводити електрику; з’єднувати людей з Інтернетом; осадові породи.

Task 7. Talk about the most important types of minerals: rock-forming, economic, silicates and nonsilicates.

Task 8. Give a short summary of the text from Task 3.