Rocks and minerals

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

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

Front

What is the Mohs scale of hardness?

Back

A scale that ranks minerals based on their ability to scratch one another, ranging from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

What is streak in mineralogy?

Back

The color of the powder produced when a mineral is scratched against a hard surface.

Front

What is luster in minerals?

Back

The way a mineral reflects light, which can be described as metallic, glassy, dull, etc.

Front

What is cleavage in minerals?

Back

The tendency of a mineral to break along flat, even surfaces.

Front

What is fracture in mineralogy?

Back

The way a mineral breaks when it does not have cleavage; it can be uneven, conchoidal, or fibrous.

Front

What is the difference between a rock and a mineral?

Back

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

Front

What is the definition of igneous rock?

Back

Rock formed from the cooling and solidification of molten material (magma or lava).

Front

What is sedimentary rock?

Back

Rock formed from the accumulation and compaction of mineral and organic particles.

Front

What is metamorphic rock?

Back

Rock that has been changed from its original form due to heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids.