Minerals Review 2

Front

What is cleavage in minerals?

Back

Cleavage is the way a mineral breaks along specific planes, resulting in smooth surfaces.

Front

What property of rocks is tested by shining a flashlight on them?

Back

Luster is the property that describes how light reflects off the surface of a mineral.

Front

What number on the hardness scale represents the hardest mineral?

Back

10 represents the hardest mineral on the hardness scale.

Front

Why can minerals be identified using hardness, streak, and cleavage?

Back

Minerals can be identified because they have different recognizable properties.

Front

What is the streak of a mineral?

Back

Streak is the color of the powder left when a mineral is rubbed on a piece of unglazed porcelain.

Front

What does the term 'luster' refer to in minerals?

Back

Luster refers to the way light interacts with the surface of a mineral, indicating its shine or dullness.

Front

What is the definition of hardness in minerals?

Back

Hardness is a measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching.

Front

What is the difference between cleavage and fracture in minerals?

Back

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces, while fracture is an irregular break.

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 Mohs scale?

Back

The Mohs scale is a scale from 1 to 10 used to rank the hardness of minerals.