Mineral Vocabulary Flashcards
Mineral definition
A substance that is formed in the Earth, is inorganic, has a definite chemical composition and has a crystal structure.
Streak definition
The color of a mineral’s powder when it is rubbed against a porcelain plate.
Luster definition
The way the surface of a mineral reflects light.
Inorganic definition
Not derived from living matter.
Crystal definition
A solid formation that follows a pattern.
Hardness definition
The ability of a mineral to scratch or be scratched by another mineral.
Cleavage definition
The tendency of crystals and minerals to break along definite planes resulting in smooth surfaces.
fracture definition
The appearance of a freshly broken surface on a mineral that has a rough or irregular surface.
Mohs Hardness Scale definition
A hardness scale used to classify minerals.
Formula definition
A set of chemical symbols showing the makeup of a chemical compound.
