Unit 6- Rocks and Minerals Flashcards

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Mineral

Back

A solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence and an orderly crystalline structure

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Silicate

Back

Four oxygen joined to one silicon atom in a tetrahedron

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Luster

Back

The way a mineral reflects light

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Fracture

Back

When a mineral breaks the edges are rough, rounded, grainy, rough and inconsistent.

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Streak

Back

The color of a mineral's powder when rubbed on porcelain plate, reliable trait because it is not affected by weathering like surface color

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Cleavage

Back

A mineral's ability to split easily along even planes in a consistent manner when broken

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Hardness

Back

A measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched

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Rock

Back

A naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more minerals or organic matter

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Sedimentary

Back

A type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together

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Clastic

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A sedimentary rock composed of weathered fragments of older rock.