Minerals

Front

What is luster in minerals?

Back

Luster is the way in which a mineral reflects light. It can be metallic or nonmetallic.

Front

What defines a mineral?

Back

A mineral is a naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite crystal structure.

Front

What is the difference between cleavage and fracture in minerals?

Back

Cleavage is the manner in which a mineral breaks along flat surfaces, while fracture is when a mineral breaks along curved or irregular surfaces.

Front

What are some terms used to describe luster?

Back

Terms that describe luster include dull, silky, waxy, pearly, and earthy.

Front

What is streak in relation to minerals?

Back

Streak is the color of the powder left when a mineral is scraped across a surface.

Front

What is the hardness of a mineral?

Back

Hardness is a measure of how resistant a mineral is to scratching.

Front

What is the significance of a mineral's color?

Back

Color can help identify a mineral, but it is not always reliable due to impurities.

Front

What is a crystal structure?

Back

A crystal structure is the orderly, repeating arrangement of atoms in a mineral.

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

What is the term for a mineral that contains metal?

Back

A mineral that contains metal is called an ore.