Ch 26 Vocab Flashcards
Streak
Shows color of a mineral in powder form
Mineral
Inorganic solid with crystalline structure
Cleavage
The way a mineral breaks along a smooth flat or proffered plane
Fracture
The way a mineral breaks unevenly or with irregular surfaces
Luster
The way a mineral reflects light
Hardness
The Minerals resistance to scratching
Silicates
Classification of the mineral group most important by volume of the earths crust
Non-Silicates
Minerals that don’t contain silicon
Rock
A naturally formed mixture that contains minerals, rock fragments, or volcanic gases
Texture
Describes size, shape, and arrangement
Igneous
Rocks formed from molten material that cools underground or on earths surface
Intrusive igneous
Formed when magma cools slowly below the earths surface
Extrusive igneous
Forms when lava or ash erupts and cools quickly on the earths surface
Clasts
Small rock and mineral fragments
Pore space
Empty space between clasts usually found in sedimentary rocks
Compaction
Process of clasts sticking together caused by the weight of overlying material
Cementation
Is the process of materials precipitate slowly out of water
Sedimentary rock
Made up of primarily compacted and cemented grains, clasts, or biological material
Metamorphic rock
Formed when pre-existing rocks were changed by heat and pressure
Foliated
A metamorphic rock texture where crystals are arranged in layers
Non foliated
Metamorphic rock texture that has random crystal orientation
Rock cycle
Continual changing of rocks into different rock types
