Minerals and Their Properties

Front

Five characteristics of minerals

Back

Solid, crystalline, inorganic, naturally occurring, specific chemical composition

Front

Definition of cleavage in minerals

Back

A break along a plane

Front

Common laboratory technique to identify minerals

Back

X-ray diffraction

Front

X-ray diffraction process

Back

X-ray light shines on a mineral and forms a pattern of light

Front

Natural occurrence of minerals

Back

Minerals are naturally occurring substances, not artificial

Front

Inorganic substances

Back

Structures not found in living bodies

Front

Earth's crust composition

Back

98.5% composed of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium

Front

Mineral streak

Back

Color of the mineral’s powder when streaked across a hard surface

Front

Mineral luster

Back

Reflection of light off a mineral’s surface (shininess)

Front

Metallic vs. non-metallic minerals

Back

Metallic minerals are shiny (gold), non-metallic are not (quartz, salt)