Minerals Flashcard

Front

What is the streak of a mineral?

Back

The streak of a mineral is the color of the powder left behind when the mineral is scratched against a surface.

Front

What does hardness refer to in minerals?

Back

Hardness refers to how resistant a mineral is to being scratched.

Front

What is fracture in terms of mineral properties?

Back

Fracture is the way a mineral breaks into irregular pieces with uneven surfaces.

Front

What is cleavage in mineralogy?

Back

Cleavage is the property of a mineral to break along flat surfaces or even sheets.

Front

What is the relationship between rocks and minerals?

Back

Rocks are made of minerals, and minerals are made of elements.

Front

What is luster in minerals?

Back

Luster describes how light reflects off the surface of a mineral, indicating its shine.

Front

What is an example of a mineral with perfect cleavage?

Back

Mica is an example of a mineral that has perfect cleavage, breaking into thin sheets.

Front

What is the Mohs scale?

Back

The Mohs scale is a scale that ranks minerals based on their hardness from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

What is the difference between cleavage and fracture?

Back

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat planes, while fracture is breaking into irregular shapes.

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.