Rocks and Minerals Vocab

Front

Constant and predictable component of minerals; some, like yellow sulfur, have a characteristic color, while others, like fluorite, vary in color due to impurities or crystalline structure.

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color

Front

At the macroscopic level, geologists refer to the visible external shape of a material as crystal shape or habit, resulting from the characteristic shape of a single crystal or aggregate.

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shape

Front

Relative property based on a hierarchy of minerals' ability to scratch each other, defined by Frederick Mohs.

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hardness

Front

Describes a mineral's shape when it breaks randomly; jagged, irregular shape.

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fracture

Front

Relationship between rock materials; crystalline textures include phaneritic, foliated, and porphyritic. Phaneritic shows interlocking crystals visible to the eye.

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texture

Front

Color left by a mineral on a ceramic plate.

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streak

Front

Reflectivity of a mineral's surface, varying in forms.

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Luster

Front

Naturally occurring, definite chemical composition, solid with crystalline structure, inorganic.

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minerals

Front

What something is made of.

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Chemical composition

Front

Existing by nature without artificial aid.

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Natural occurring