Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Earth most abundant mineral
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Minerals make up rocks and therefore form the solid part of the Earth. Some minerals are rare and valuable, while others are extremely abundant but hidden deep inside the planet. Bridgmanite is a scientific name that appears in advanced earth science discussions about the composition of the deep mantle. This question asks you to identify what bridgmanite refers to, testing your awareness of modern discoveries about Earth interior.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Bridgmanite is the approved mineral name for a high pressure form of magnesium iron silicate with a perovskite structure. It is believed to be the most abundant mineral phase in the Earth lower mantle, making it the most abundant mineral in the Earth as a whole by volume, even though it is not visible at the surface. The other options are clearly unrelated to earth science. The approach is to identify bridgmanite as a deep Earth mineral and recognise that its extreme abundance at depth makes it the planet most abundant mineral overall.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the name bridgmanite honours physicist Percy Bridgman, known for work on high pressure physics, which aligns with its occurrence at high pressures in the deep mantle.
Step 2: Understand that bridgmanite is a high pressure form of magnesium silicate with a perovskite crystal structure, stable at depths corresponding to the lower mantle.
Step 3: Geophysical models of Earth interior suggest that most of the lower mantle consists of this mineral, so by volume it outweighs crustal minerals like quartz or feldspars.
Step 4: Therefore, even though we do not see bridgmanite at the surface, it is regarded as the most abundant mineral inside the Earth.
Step 5: A bridge on the Thames, a game, or a music title are clearly not consistent with the geoscience context and can be ruled out.
Verification / Alternative check:
Scientific reports on Earth interior composition note that the lower mantle is dominated by magnesium silicate in perovskite form, now officially named bridgmanite. When summing up all minerals by volume within the entire Earth, bridgmanite ranks at the top. This is contrasted with crustal minerals such as quartz, feldspars, and olivine, which are abundant at shallow depths but occupy a much smaller fraction of the Earth total volume. Reference to bridgmanite as the most abundant mineral in Earth interior is now common in advanced earth science discussions, confirming option C as correct.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Common Pitfalls:
Because bridgmanite is a relatively new official name and refers to a mineral found deep in the mantle, many students may not have encountered it at school level and might guess randomly. The distractor options about bridges, games, and music aim to catch such guesses. To avoid being misled, focus on the context of the question. Given that it appears under general science and earth science categories, it is logical that bridgmanite is a mineral rather than an everyday cultural item.
Final Answer:
Bridgmanite is the name of Earth most abundant mineral in the deep mantle.
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