Geology Flashcards

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Crystal

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A solid formed by a repeating pattern of atoms.

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Density

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A measure of how "light" or "heavy" a material is for its size. To find density, divide the mass of the material by its volume. Density is often measured in grams per milliliter (g/mL).

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Hardness

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A measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched. Hardness is measured on a scale of 1 to 10 called the Mohs scale.

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Luster

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The way a mineral reflects light. Examples include metallic, glassy, pearly, dull, waxy, resinous, greasy, chalky, and silky.

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Mass

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The amount of matter in an object, measured in grams (g).

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Mineral

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A naturally formed, inorganic solid with a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition. Synthetic and organic materials are not minerals. Substances with no crystal structure are not minerals.

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Streak

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The color of a mineral in powdered form, observed by rubbing a mineral on a streak plate. If a mineral is harder than a streak plate, it will not leave a streak.

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Volume

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The amount of space an object takes up, measured in milliliters (mL).