Mineral Identification Flashcard

Front

Which mineral is commonly used in pencils due to its softness?

Back

Graphite

Front

What property describes how light travels through a mineral?

Back

Diaphaneity

Front

What is the hardest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale?

Back

Diamond

Front

What tool is NOT typically used to test a mineral's hardness?

Back

Magnifying glass

Front

What is cleavage in minerals?

Back

The breakage of a mineral along specific planes.

Front

What is luster in minerals?

Back

The way a mineral reflects light, can be metallic or non-metallic.

Front

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

Back

The resistance of a mineral to breaking, bending, or deforming.

Front

What is the definition of a mineral?

Back

A naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Front

What is the significance of the Mohs Hardness Scale?

Back

It ranks minerals based on their ability to scratch one another, from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

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 an irregular break.