Rocks & Mineral terms Flashcards
Mineral
a naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite crystaline structure
Rock
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
usually 1st characteristic noticed about a mineral, but not always reliable
Luster
the way in which a mineral reflects light
Streak
the color of the powder of a mineral
Cleavage
the splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces
Fracture
the manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular surfaces
Hardness
a measure of the ability of a mineral to resist scratching
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
they have a shiny surface, do not let light pass through them and are good conductors of heat and electricity
Non-Metallic Minerals
they have shiny or dull surfaces, may let light pass through them and are good insulators of electricity.
