Unit 2 Section 2 - Minerals Flashcards
A solid whose atoms or other components appear in a regular, repeating pattern.
Crystal
A substance that cannot be broken into simpler substances by chemical means.
Element
A substance that has specific characteristics.
Mineral
Most abundant element in Earth’s crust.
Oxygen
Crystals of a single element.
Native elements
A substance composed of atoms of two or more different types of elements that are held together by chemical bonds.
Compound
Function of the wavelengths of light that the mineral reflects.
Color
A description of the way the mineral reflects light.
Luster
Measure of the amount of light that the mineral absorbs or allows to pass through.
Transparency
How a mineral normally appears in nature.
Shape
Describe the way a mineral breaks.
Cleavage and fracture
Color of a mineral in its powdered form
Streak
The strength of the bonds between atoms within the crystal.
Hardness