Properties of Minerals

Front

What are minerals?

Back

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure.

Front

What is the relationship between rocks and minerals?

Back

Minerals are the basic building blocks from which nearly all rocks are made.

Front

What property of minerals is tested by scratching them against other substances?

Back

Hardness.

Front

What is luster in relation to minerals?

Back

Luster is the way a mineral reflects light, which can be described as shiny, dull, or glassy.

Front

What is streak in mineral identification?

Back

Streak is the color of the powder a mineral leaves when it is scratched on a white tile.

Front

What does cleavage mean in terms of minerals?

Back

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces.

Front

What is the difference between a rock and a mineral?

Back

A rock is made up of one or more minerals, while a mineral is a single substance.

Front

What is the significance of color in identifying minerals?

Back

Color can help identify minerals, but it is not always reliable due to variations.

Front

What is the term for the way a mineral breaks that is not along cleavage planes?

Back

Fracture.

Front

What is the definition of a gemstone?

Back

A gemstone is a precious or semi-precious mineral that is cut and polished for use in jewelry.