Mineral Identification

Front

What is cleavage in mineral identification?

Back

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along smooth, flat planes.

Front

What is the hardest naturally occurring mineral?

Back

Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring mineral, often used in jewelry and on saw blades.

Front

What are the two types of luster in minerals?

Back

Metallic and nonmetallic are the two types of luster in minerals.

Front

Can a penny scratch fluorite?

Back

No, a penny cannot scratch fluorite.

Front

What does luster refer to in minerals?

Back

Luster refers to the way a mineral reflects light, which can be metallic or non-metallic.

Front

What is the definition of streak in mineral identification?

Back

Streak is the color of the powder left when a mineral is scratched on a porcelain plate.

Front

What is hardness in the context of minerals?

Back

Hardness is a measure of a mineral's resistance to being scratched.

Front

What is the Mohs scale?

Back

The Mohs scale is a scale that ranks minerals based on their hardness from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

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

Front

What is the difference between a rock and a mineral?

Back

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