Minerals Vocab

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

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

Front

What does 'naturally occurring' mean in the context of minerals?

Back

Made by processes that don’t involve human intervention.

Front

What is 'luster' in minerals?

Back

The way in which a mineral reflects light.

Front

What does 'cleavage' refer to in minerals?

Back

The tendency of a mineral to split or break to form smooth, flat surfaces.

Front

Which term describes the chemical makeup of a mineral?

Back

Composition.

Front

What is the definition of 'hardness' in minerals?

Back

The measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching.

Front

What is 'streak' in mineralogy?

Back

The color of a mineral in powdered form.

Front

What does 'fracture' mean in the context of minerals?

Back

The way a mineral breaks other than along cleavage planes.

Front

What is 'density' in relation to minerals?

Back

The mass of a mineral per unit volume.

Front

What is 'crystal structure'?

Back

The orderly, repeating arrangement of atoms in a mineral.