Rock and Mineral Vocab Flashcards
Mineral
a naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite chemical structure
Rock
a naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more minerals or organic matter
Element
a substance that cannot be separated or broken down into simpler substances by chemical means
compound
a substance made up of atoms of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds
crystal
a solid whose atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite pattern
color
first noticeable feature to the brain
luster
the way in which a mineral reflects light
streak
the color of the powder of a mineral
cleavage
a splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces
fracture
the manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular
density
The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume of the substance
ore
a natural material whose concentration of economically valuable minerals is high enough for the material to be mined profitably
metallic minerals
shiny
Non-metallic minerals
dull
gemstones
a semiprecious stone
