rock & mineral Flashcards
Mineral
a solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence.
Rock
the solid mineral material forming part of the surface of the earth and other similar planets, exposed on the surface or underlying the soil or oceans.
Element
an element is a pure substance which cannot be broken down by chemical means
Compound
a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements
Crystal
a piece of a homogeneous solid substance having a natural geometrically regular form with symmetrically arranged plane faces.
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
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
deposits can consist of a variety of metallic minerals containing valuable metals such as nickel
Non-metallic minerals
Nonmetallic minerals are a special group of chemical elements from which no new product can be generated if they are melted
Gemstones
a precious or semiprecious stone, especially one cut, polished, and used in a piece of jewelry.
