rock and mineral Flashcards
mineral
a solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence.
rock
a large piece of rock that has become detached from a cliff or mountain; a boulder.
element
a part or aspect of something abstract, especially one that is essential or characteristic.
compound
a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture.
crystal
highly transparent glass with a high refractive index.
color
the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way the object reflects or emits light.
luster
a gentle sheen or soft glow, especially that of a partly reflective surface.
streak
a long, thin line or mark of a different substance or color from its surroundings.
cleavage
a sharp division; a split.
fracture
the cracking or breaking of a hard object or material.
density
the degree of compactness of a substance.
ore
a naturally occurring solid material from which a metal or valuable mineral can be profitably extracted.
metallic minerals
specific gravity and metallic luster, such as titanium, rutile , tungsten, uranium, tin, lead, iron, etc
non-metallic minerals
reserves consist of stone quarries and clay and sand pits
gemstones
a precious or semiprecious stone, especially one cut, polished, and used in a piece of jewelry.
igneous rock
one of three main rock types
sedimentary rock
formed through the deposition and solidification of sediment, especially sediment
metamorphic rock
denoting rock that has undergone transformation by heat, pressure, or other natural agencies, e.g., in the folding of strata or the nearby intrusion of igneous rocks.
