Mineral Identification

Front

What is the term for breakage along smooth, flat planes in minerals?

Back

Cleavage.

Front

What is the term that describes the way a mineral reflects light, which can be metallic or non-metallic?

Back

Luster.

Front

Which mineral is known as the softest mineral and has a soapy feel?

Back

Talc.

Front

What is the hardest naturally occurring mineral, often used in jewelry and on the tips of saw blades?

Back

Diamond.

Front

What does the term 'hardness' refer to in mineralogy?

Back

The measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched.

Front

What is the difference between cleavage and fracture in minerals?

Back

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat planes, while fracture is the way a mineral breaks in an irregular manner.

Front

What scale is used to measure the hardness of minerals?

Back

Mohs scale.

Front

What mineral has a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale?

Back

Diamond.

Front

What is the term for the color of a mineral's powder when it is scraped on a porcelain plate?

Back

Streak.

Front

What is the term for the specific arrangement of atoms in a mineral?

Back

Crystal structure.