Minerals

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

A naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure.

Front

What are the main properties used to identify minerals?

Back

Color, streak, luster, hardness, cleavage, fracture, and specific gravity.

Front

What is the streak of a mineral?

Back

The color of the powder produced when a mineral is scratched on a streak plate.

Front

What is luster in minerals?

Back

The way a mineral reflects light, categorized as metallic or non-metallic.

Front

What is cleavage in minerals?

Back

The tendency of a mineral to break along flat, even surfaces.

Front

What is fracture in minerals?

Back

The way a mineral breaks when it does not cleave, resulting in uneven surfaces.

Front

What is the Mohs scale?

Back

A scale that ranks minerals based on their hardness from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

What is the most common mineral on Earth's surface?

Back

Quartz.

Front

Can minerals be man-made?

Back

False, minerals are naturally occurring substances.

Front

What is the difference between metallic and non-metallic luster?

Back

Metallic luster resembles metal and reflects light well, while non-metallic luster does not.