Mineral Characteristics

Front

What does 'naturally occurring' mean in the context of minerals?

Back

It refers to minerals that can be found on Earth and are not man-made.

Front

How can you identify a mineral that is 'inorganic'?

Back

A mineral is considered inorganic if it is not made from living things.

Front

What is meant by 'crystal structure' in minerals?

Back

Crystal structure refers to the orderly, repeating pattern of atoms in a mineral.

Front

What are the main characteristics of minerals?

Back

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, solid substances with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Front

Can you give an example of a naturally occurring mineral?

Back

Quartz is an example of a naturally occurring mineral.

Front

What is the significance of a mineral's hardness?

Back

Hardness measures a mineral's resistance to scratching and is a key property for identification.

Front

What is the Mohs scale?

Back

The Mohs scale is a scale that ranks minerals based on their hardness from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

How does the crystal structure affect a mineral's properties?

Back

The crystal structure influences a mineral's physical properties, such as cleavage, fracture, and hardness.

Front

What is the difference between a mineral and a rock?

Back

A mineral is a single, naturally occurring substance, while a rock is a solid aggregate of one or more minerals.

Front

What does 'definite chemical composition' mean for minerals?

Back

It means that minerals have a specific chemical formula that defines their composition.