Minerals Flashcardizz

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

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

Front

What is luster in minerals?

Back

The way a mineral reflects light, which can be metallic or nonmetallic.

Front

What does the term 'fracture' mean in mineralogy?

Back

The tendency of a mineral to break into irregular pieces.

Front

What is the difference between cleavage and fracture?

Back

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces, while fracture is breaking into irregular pieces.

Front

What is hardness in minerals?

Back

A measure of a mineral's resistance to being scratched.

Front

Which mineral can scratch quartz?

Back

Topaz can scratch quartz.

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 a silicate mineral?

Back

A mineral that contains silicon and oxygen, such as quartz and feldspar.

Front

What is a non-silicate mineral?

Back

A mineral that does not contain silicon, such as calcite and gypsum.

Front

What is the streak of a mineral?

Back

The color of the powder produced when a mineral is scratched on a streak plate.