Minerals

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

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

Front

What is the hardest mineral?

Back

Diamond.

Front

How is the hardness of a mineral tested?

Back

By observing what materials can scratch it.

Front

What are silicates?

Back

The most common group of minerals in Earth's crust, including quartz and feldspar.

Front

What is cleavage in minerals?

Back

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

Front

What is fracture in minerals?

Back

The way a mineral breaks when it does not have cleavage; it breaks unevenly.

Front

What is luster in minerals?

Back

The way a mineral reflects light, which can be metallic or non-metallic.

Front

What is streak in mineralogy?

Back

The color of the powder left when a mineral is scraped across a surface.

Front

What is the difference between a mineral and a rock?

Back

A mineral is a single substance, while a rock is a solid aggregate of one or more minerals.

Front

What is the chemical composition of granite?

Back

Granite is composed mainly of quartz, feldspar, and mica.