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 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 a 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 of a mineral that has a rough or irregular surface
Mohs hardness scale
A hardness scale used to classify minerals
Formula
A set of chemicals symbols showing the makeup of a chemical compound
