Lab #4: Hydrothermal Vents

Hydrothermal Vents:

• What are they?-->Hydrothermal vents are underwater geysers on the ocean floor that release hot water and minerals.

• How do they work?-->The vents form along the bottom of the ocean and often occur on the mid-oceanic ridge; rock that lies near the surface of the bottom of the ocean heats up ocean water which seeps into the ground and then goes on to come back out later. (More)

• What are their physical structures?-->Hydrothermal vents are chimney-like structures that can be several stories high.

Many animals live in the area surrounding the hydrothermal vents

If you want to learn more about hydrothermal vents, Bill Nye and National Geographic have interesting videos on YouTube.  

Lab #3: Minerals

1)  

• This is a picture of potassium feldspar, or orthoclase
• It is a part of the feldspar family
• It's chemical formula is KAlSi3O8
• It's silicate structure is a three-dimensional network 
• It's cleavage is at two planes at 90 degrees

2)  

• This is a picture of muscovite
• It is a part of the mica family
• It's chemical formula is Kal2(asSi3O10)(OH)2
• It's silicate structure is sheets
• It's cleavage is one plane