rocks and minerals Flashcards
Mineral
a natural occurring inorganic element or compound having an orderly internal structure and characteristic chemical composition
Rock
a natural substance composed of solid crystals of different minerals that have been fused together into a solid lump
Element
substance that cannot be broken down into simpler format
Compound
a substance formed when two or more chemical elements are chemically combined together
Crystal
a solid material whose constituents such as atoms molecules or ions are arranged in a highly ordered microscopic structure
Color
usually 1st characteristic noticed about a mineral, but generally not reliable
Luster
the appearance of a mineral surface in terms of its light reflective qualities
Streak
the color of a mineral in its powdered form
Cleavage
the tendency of minerals to split along crystallographic planes as a result of structural locations of atoms and ions in the crystal
Fracture
appearance of a surface broken in directions other than along cleavage planes
Density
the mass of a substance per unit of volume
Ore
a deposit in earth’s crust of one or more minerals
Metallic minerals
minerals that contain one or more metallic elements
Non-metallic
minerals the minerals that contain no metals
Gemstones
a precious or semiprecious stone
