Geology Rock Type Identification Flashcard

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What is Feldspar?

Back

A non-metallic mineral that is light colored, has a hardness of 6.0-6.5, exhibits two planes of cleavage at 90°, and has a white streak.

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What is Graphite?

Back

A metallic mineral with a luster, non-magnetic, hardness of 1.5-2.0, gray streak, and can write like a pencil.

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What is Fracture in minerals?

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The breaking of a mineral in a direction other than along a cleavage plane; minerals with no cleavage exhibit fracture.

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What is Muscovite?

Back

A non-metallic mineral that is light in color, has a hardness of 2.5-3.0, exhibits one perfect plane of cleavage, has a white streak, and appears in sheets or plates.

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What is Gypsum?

Back

A non-metallic mineral with a hardness of 2.0 (can be scratched by a fingernail), exhibits one perfect plane of cleavage, has a white streak, and has a translucent appearance.

Front

Define Cleavage in minerals.

Back

The tendency of a mineral to break along flat, even surfaces.

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What is Hardness in mineralogy?

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A measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching, often assessed using the Mohs scale.

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What is Streak in mineral identification?

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The color of the powder produced when a mineral is scraped across a streak plate.

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What is the Mohs scale?

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A scale that ranks minerals based on their hardness from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

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What is the difference between metallic and non-metallic luster?

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Metallic luster reflects light like a metal, while non-metallic luster does not and can appear glassy, dull, or pearly.