Mineral Properties Vocabulary

non-living solid material formed in nature and has the same makeup throughout the entire substance

• hardness

• mineral

• magnetism

• color

outward appearance of a mineral noticeable by sight

• cleavage

• hardness

• luster

• color

describes how a mineral reflects light: shininess or lack of shininess of a mineral

• color

• streak

• hardness

• luster

color of powder left behind when a mineral is rubbed against a tile

• color

• luster

• streak

• hardness

a mineral's ability to scratch or be scratched by another mineral or other substance

• streak

• hardness

• cleavage

• fracture

describes how minerals break forming a smooth, flat surface

• hardness

• cleavage

• fracture

• effervescence

describes how minerals break into jagged, curved, or fibrous forms rather than flat surfaces

• hardness

• cleavage

• fracture

• fluorescence

mineral's ability to bubble when acid is dropped on its surface

• fluorescence

• effervescence

• composition

• magnetism

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

mineral's ability to glow in the presence of ultraviolet light

• fluorescence

• composition

• effervescence

• magnetism

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

mineral's ability to attract to a magnet or attract certain metals

• fluorescence

• composition

• effervescence

• magnetism

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS2-3