Mineral Identification

Front

What is luster in mineral identification?

Back

Luster refers to the way light reflects off the surface of a mineral. It can be metallic (shiny) or nonmetallic (dull, glassy, or pearly).

Front

What are minerals?

Back

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

Front

What is cleavage in minerals?

Back

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat, even surfaces. It is a characteristic property used in mineral identification.

Front

What is hardness in mineral identification?

Back

Hardness is a measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching. It is often tested using the Mohs scale, which ranks minerals from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

Which of the following is NOT true of minerals?

Back

Minerals are liquids. (Minerals are solid, inorganic substances.)

Front

What is the difference between fracture and cleavage?

Back

Fracture refers to the way a mineral breaks irregularly, while cleavage refers to breaking along smooth, flat surfaces.

Front

What is streak in mineral identification?

Back

Streak is the color of a mineral in its powdered form, which can be determined by rubbing the mineral on a porcelain plate.

Front

What does it mean for a mineral to be inorganic?

Back

Inorganic means that the mineral is not made from living organisms or their remains.

Front

What is a crystalline structure in minerals?

Back

A crystalline structure is the orderly, repeating arrangement of atoms in a mineral, which gives it a specific shape and properties.

Front

What is the significance of color in mineral identification?

Back

Color can help identify minerals, but it is not always reliable due to impurities that can change a mineral's color.