Flashcards for Earth and Space
The shape of a crystal comes from their?
Structure
A crystal is a?
solid whose atoms or other components appear in a regular repeating pattern.
An element is a?
Substance that cannot be broken down any simpler
The most common elements in Earth’s crust are?
Oxygen, silicon, aluminium, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
A mineral is a?
Solid substance that has the same material throughout, it also has an orderly internal structure
How can you classify a mineral?
Through characteristics such as physical, chemical, colors, and textures
Characteristics of a mineral are?
Occur naturally, inorganic, solid, specific chemical composition, and definite crystalline structure
What are native elements?
Crystals made up of a single element
Of the 92 occurring elements on Earth, only ____ exist as native elements.
19
A compound is a?
Substance with two or more different types of elements held together by a chemical bond
Some common minerals are?
Quarts, SiO2, Halite, NaCl, Calcite, CaCO3, and Pyrite
The most abundant minerals are compounds rich in _________?
Oxygen and Silicon
The most abundant minerals with oxygen and silicon are called?
Silicates
The size of crystals is determined by?
How fast the magma cools or hardens
Luster
The way a mineral reflects light
Transparency
The amount of light a mineral absorbs or lets through
Shape
How something appears
Color
The wavelength a mineral reflects
Streak
A mineral in its powdered form
Cleavage
Tendency of a mineral to split along a flat plane
Fracture
Describes the way a mineral breaks
Hardness
How hard a mineral is the break compared to others
Saturation
Full to capacity
Precipitate
Something that comes out of a saturated solution
Crystalize
Harden
