Minerals vocab words Flashcards
(10 cards)
Mineral
A substance that is formed naturally in the earth, is organic, has a define composition, and has a crystal structure
streak
the color of a minerals powder when rubbed against a porcelain plate
Luster
the way the surface of a mineral reflects light
inorganic
not derived from living matter
crystal
A solid formation that follows a pattern
Hardness
The ability of a mineral to scratch or be scratched by another mineral
cleavage
The tendency of crystals and minerals to break along definite planes resulting in smooth surfaces
Fracture
the appearance of a freshly broken surface on a mineral that has a rough or irregular surface
Mohs hardness scale
the hardness used to classify minerals
formula
a set of chemical symbols showing the makeup of a chemical compound
