Earth and Space Winter Final study guide

Front

What is the most reliable way to identify a mineral?

Back

Using a combination of several tests.

Front

How does vegetation affect runoff?

Back

Vegetation leads to less runoff compared to no vegetation.

Front

What happens to compounds in cooling magma?

Back

They may interact chemically to form minerals when they no longer move freely.

Front

How many known minerals are there in Earth's crust?

Back

At least 3000 known minerals.

Front

What is luster in terms of minerals?

Back

Luster is described as either metallic or nonmetallic.

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

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

Front

What is the difference between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks?

Back

Igneous rocks form from cooled magma or lava, sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation of sediments, and metamorphic rocks form from the alteration of existing rocks due to heat and pressure.

Front

What is the rock cycle?

Back

The rock cycle is the continuous process of rock formation, breakdown, and reformation through various geological processes.

Front

What is erosion?

Back

Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind or water flow.

Front

What is the significance of the Mohs scale?

Back

The Mohs scale measures the hardness of minerals, ranking them from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).