Mineral ID Flashcards
What are the five characteristics that makes a mineral a mineral
Naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, crystalline structure, and a definite but sometimes variable chemical composition
What makes a compound inorganic
Has no carbon-hydrogen bonds present
What is it called when an aminal manufactures a mineral
Biochemical minerals
What does it mean to be crystalline
Atoms are arranged into specific orderly patterns called crystal lattices
Which physical property of a mineral should you not rely on/look at last and why?
Colour because of impurities in the crystal structure and the inclusion of other minerals, both of which can affect the colour of the mineral but are still considered the same mineral
What is lustre
Lustre describes how light reflects of the minerals
What are the four terms often used to describe lustre
Metallic, vitreous (glassy), earthy, and pearly
What is clarity
Clarity is the ability to transmit light
What are the three terms often used to describe clarity
Transparent, translucent, opaque
What is streak
Shows what the powdered form of a mineral looks like
What is habit
Habit is the shape that the crystal will naturally form as it grows
What are cleavage planes
Natural planes of weakness in a mineral’s structure that allows it to break a certain way
What is hardness
Hardness refers to how hard the mineral is
What are rocks made of
Earth material (soil, fossils, and minerals)
What are the two different forms of rocks and describe how each differs
Aggregates of crystals and aggregate of grains, the aggregate of crystals are one solid crystal structure that is made up of a number of minerals while the aggregate of grain is made up of fragments of other rocks, minerals, and fossils
