Mineral Vocabulary Flashcards
Mineral
A substance that is formed naturally in the earth, is inorganic, has a definite chemical composition and has a crystal structure.
Streak
The color of a minerals powder when it is rubbed against a porcelain plate.
luster
the way the surface of a mineral reflects light.
inorganic
not derived from living matter.
crystal
a solid formation that follows a pattern
hardness
the ability of a mineral to scratch or be scratched by another mineral.
cleavage
the tendency of crystals and minerals to break along definite plans resulting in smooth surfaces
fracture
the appearance of a freshly scratched surface on a mineral that has a rough or irregular surface
mohs hardness scale
a hardness scale used to classify minerals.
formula
a set of chemical symbols showing the makeup of a chemical compound
