Rocks and Minerals Flashcards
(14 cards)
molten rock that has reached the Earth’s surface.
lava
A solid material that formed by a natural process.
Mineral
A solid substance in which the particles are arranged in an orderly, repeating, three-dimensional pattern.
crystal
something from living organisms.
organic
the ability of a mineral to resist scratching .
hardness
the tendency of a mineral to break along certain planes.
cleavage
the chemical or physical breakdown of rocks, soils or minerals at Earth’s surface
weathering
not organic; not involving life or living organisms, for example, the rock and mineral portion of the soil.
inorganic
the color of the powder of a mineral.
streak
the way light reflects off of the surface of the mineral.
luster
describes how much matter is in a certain amount of space.
density
a measure of the amount of matter in an object.
mass
a scientist who studies minerals.
mineralogist
the simplest form of matter that has a unique set of properties.
element
