Minerals

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

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

Front

What is the term for the color of a mineral in powder form?

Back

Streak.

Front

What property of a mineral describes how light reflects off its surface?

Back

Luster.

Front

What is the property that describes a mineral's mass to volume ratio?

Back

Density.

Front

What is the term for the way a mineral breaks along flat surfaces?

Back

Cleavage.

Front

What is the term for the way a mineral breaks in an irregular manner?

Back

Fracture.

Front

What is hardness in relation to minerals?

Back

A measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching.

Front

What is the Mohs scale?

Back

A scale that ranks minerals based on their hardness from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

What is the difference between silicate and non-silicate minerals?

Back

Silicate minerals contain silicon and oxygen; non-silicate minerals do not.

Front

What is the definition of a rock?

Back

A solid aggregate of one or more minerals or mineraloids.