Chapter 1 minerals Flashcards
mineral
A naturally formed inorganic solid that has a definite crystalline structure.
element
A substance that cannot be separated or broken down by chemical means.
compound
A substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds.
crystal
A solid whose atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in definite pattern.
silicate minerals
A mineral that contains a combination of silicon, oxygen, and one or more metals.
non-silicate minerals
A mineral that does not contain compounds of silicon and oxygen.
streak
The color of the powder of a mineral.
cleavage
The splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces.
fracture
The manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular surfaces.
hardness
A measure of the ability of a mineral to resist scratching.
density
The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume of the substance.
ore
A natural material whose concentration of economically valuable minerals is high enough for the material to be mined profitably.
reclamation
The process of returning land to its original condition after mining is completed.
Strata
Layers of rock.
Stratification
The process in which sedimentary rocks are arranged in layers.
Foliated
The texture of metamorphic rock in which the mineral grains are arranged in planes or bands.
Non-Foliated
The texture of metamorphic rock in which the mineral grains are not arranged in planes or bands.
Rock
A naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more minerals or organic matter.
Rock Cycle
The series of processes in which of a rock forms, changes from one type to another, is destroyed, and forms again by geological processes.
Deposition
The process in which material is laid down.
Composition
The chemical makeup of a rock, describes either the mineral or other materials in the rock.
Texture
The quality of a rock that is based on the size,shapes, and position of the rock’s grain.
