Rock and Mineral Flashcards
Rock
a naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more minerals or organic matter.
Mineral
a naturally formed , inorganic solid that has a definite chemical structure
Crystal
a solid whose atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite
Element
a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means
Compound
products formed by chemical reaction between elements
Color
the sum of the dark or colored minerals of a rock, expressed as a percentage of the total minerals
Luster
the shine of the rock
Streak
the color the rock leaves behind
Cleavage
the tendency of a mineral to break along flat planar surfaces
Fracture
any kind of separation or break in a rock formation
Density
the mass of a substance per unit volume
Ore
a rock extracted form the Earth using mining
Non-Metallic Minerals
are mined for their commercial value, but are not fuel and are not sources of metalic
Metallic
minerals minerals mined for there metal
Gemstones
a crystalline rock used for it’s beauty
Igneous Rock
one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava
Sedimentary Rock
often deposited in layers, and frequently contain fossils
Metamorphic Rock
rock that was once one form of rock but has changed to another under the influence of heat, pressure, or some other agent without passing through a liquid phase
Geology
the study of rocks
