minerals Flashcards
what is a mineral?
naturally occurring
inorganic
crystalline solid
definite but variable chemical composition
what is natural occurring?
made in nature
not man made
what is inorganic?
no organic compounds
no carbon bonded to hydrogen
what is crystalline?
atoms are organized in a specific orderly pattern called a crystal lattice
what is definite but variable composition?
a chemical composition can have some elements swapped for others without affecting the mineral
how do we tell minerals apart?
based off of their physical properties:
colour
lustre
clarity
streak
habit
fracture
cleavage
hardness
what is colour caused by?
due to impurities in the crystal structure, inclusions of other elements, or heat
what is lustre?
it is how a mineral reflects light
what is clarity?
the ability to see light through a mineral/the ability to transmit light
what is streak?
it is the colour of the powdered mineral
what is it habit?
the shape the crystal would grow naturally with enough space
how does a crystal grow?
by adding chemicals to itself
what is a native element?
mineral made out of one element
what is a massive mineral?
shapeless
What is a granular mineral?
bunch of tiny crystals put together