Minerals and Their Properties

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mineral

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a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a specific chemical composition and a definite crystalline structure

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crystal

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a solid in which the atoms are arranged in repeating patterns

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magma

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molten (melted) material found beneath Earth's surface

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silicate

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mineral that contains silicon and oxygen, and make up approximately 96% of the minerals in Earth's crust

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luster

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the way that a mineral reflects light from its surface

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streak

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the color of a mineral when it is broken up and powdered

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hardness

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a measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched

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cleavage

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splitting relatively easily and evenly along one or more flat planes

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fracture

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breaking along jagged or rough edges

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specific gravity

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the ratio of the weight of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of water at 4 degrees Celsius