Mineral Characteristics and Properties

The way a surface (of a mineral) reflect light. Either metallic or nonmetallic:

• Cleavage

• Streak

• Luster

• Reflection

How much a mineral resists scratching is

• Streak

• Fracture

• Hardness

• Cleavage

_________ is when a mineral splits along flat surfaces.

• color

• cleavage

• fracture

Which property of minerals does the photo represent?

• fracture

• streak

• habit

• cleavage

A mineral that breaks along uneven surfaces has ​ (a)  

​ (b)   is the color of a mineral in its powdered form.

​ (c)   describes how light is reflected or absorbed by a mineral.

The ​ (d)   of a mineral is equal to its mass divided by its volume.

A mineral that breaks along uneven surfaces has ​ (e)  

• cleavage

• Streak

• Luster

• density

• fracture

Match the term with the appropriate clue

• luster

• two or more substances physically combined, not chemically bonded

• Native mineral

• the amount and quality of the light reflected from a mineral's surface

• Mixture

• the color of a mineral's powder

• streak

• how mica can be broken into flat sheets

• cleavage

• a mineral with only one kind of atom

Dull, silky, waxy, pearly, and earthy are terms that best describe which property of minerals?

• luster

• color

• streak

• cleavage

Hardness is a property that helps identify minerals. Scientists use a scale of 1-10 to show the hardness of a mineral. What number would be given to the hardest?

• 1

• 10

• 5

• 7

A ________ is a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid with a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition.

• mineral

• rock

• crystal

• fluorite

Which of these minerals is softer than glass (5.5)?

• Topaz (8)

• Corundum (9)

• Calcite (3)

• Orthoclase (6)