Mineral Review

Front

What is the difference between cleavage and fracture in minerals?

Back

Cleavage refers to the tendency of a mineral to break along flat, even surfaces, while fracture is the irregular breakage of a mineral with rough or jagged edges.

Front

What is fracture in mineralogy?

Back

Fracture is when a mineral breaks apart in an irregular way, resulting in rough or jagged edges.

Front

What are the softest and hardest minerals on the Mohs Scale?

Back

The softest mineral is talc, and the hardest mineral is diamond.

Front

What type of luster does copper have?

Back

Copper has a metallic luster.

Front

What is crystallization in mineral formation?

Back

Crystallization is the process by which atoms are arranged in an orderly structure to form a crystal.

Front

What is the Mohs Scale used for?

Back

The Mohs Scale is used to measure the hardness of minerals.

Front

What is the definition of mineral?

Back

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

Front

What is the significance of a mineral's hardness?

Back

A mineral's hardness determines its resistance to scratching and is a key property used in mineral identification.

Front

What is the term for the way light reflects off a mineral's surface?

Back

Luster.

Front

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

Back

Metallic luster reflects light like a metal, while non-metallic luster can be dull, glassy, or pearly.