Minerals Vocabulary

A naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite chemical structure.

• rock

• mineral

• soil

• ore

The process of returning land to its original condition

after mining is completed.

• mining

• ore

• reclamation

• mineral

A mineral that can be mined for a profit.

• ore

• reclamation

• mining

• density

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

A measure of the ability of a mineral to resist scratching

• density

• cleavage

• fracture

• hardness

The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume of a

substance.

• hardness

• density

• cleavage

• fracture

The color of the powder of a mineral.

• luster

• cleavage

• fracture

• streak

The way in which a mineral reflects light

• luster

• streak

• cleavage

• density

The splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces

• cleavage

• fracture

• luster

• density

The manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular surfaces

• cleavage

• luster

• density

• fracture

A mineral that contains silicon

• diamond

• fracture

• hardness

• silicate mineral

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1