Minerals Vocab Flashcards
Mineral
A substance that is formed naturally in the Earth, has a definite chemical composition and has a crystal structure
Streak
The color of a mineral’s powder when it’s 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 mineral to scratch or be scratched by another mineral
Cleavage
The 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 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
