Minerals Vocabulary words 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 mineral’s 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 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
