Rocks and 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 hardness scale used to measure minerals?

Back

Mohs scale, which ranks minerals from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond) based on their ability to scratch one another.

Front

What are igneous rocks?

Back

Rocks formed from the solidification of molten material (magma or lava).

Front

What is the difference between magma and lava?

Back

Magma is molten rock beneath the Earth's surface, while lava is magma that has reached the surface.

Front

What are sedimentary rocks?

Back

Rocks formed from the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles.

Front

What are metamorphic rocks?

Back

Rocks that have been changed from their original form by heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids.

Front

What is the rock cycle?

Back

The continuous process by which rocks are formed, broken down, and reformed through geological processes.

Front

What determines the crystal shape of a mineral?

Back

The arrangement of atoms within the mineral.

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 other than along cleavage planes, resulting in uneven surfaces.