Minerals Flashcards
Minerals
A substance that is formed naturally in the Earth, is inorganic, has definite chemical composition and has crystal structure
Streak
The color of a mineral’s powder when it 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
Clevage
Tendency of crystals and minerals to break along definite planes resulting in smooth surfaces
Fracture
The appearance of a freshly broken surface on a mineral that has rough or irregular surfaces
Mohs Hardness Scale
A hardness scale used to classify minerals
Formula
A set of chemical symbols showing the makeup of a chemical compound
