Minerals and Their Properties

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Mineral

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A substance that forms in nature, is a solid, has a definite chemical makeup, and has a crystal structure.

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Element

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A substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance by ordinary chemical changes. An element consists of atoms of only one type.

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Crystal

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A solid substance in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating, three-dimensional pattern.

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Silicate

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A member of the mineral group that has silicon and oxygen in its crystal structure.

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Nonsilicate

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A mineral that does not contain compounds of silicon and oxygen.

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Streak

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The color of a mineral powder left behind when a mineral is scraped across a surface.

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Luster

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The way in which light reflects from a mineral's surface. Major types of luster are metallic and nonmetallic.

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Cleavage

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The property of a mineral that describes its tendency to break along flat surfaces.

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Fracture

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The tendency of a mineral to break into irregular pieces.

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Hardness

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The resistance of a mineral to being scratched.