Chapter 3 Minerals

What are the five characteristics of a mineral?

• Naturally occurring

• Inorganic

• Solid

• Definite chemical formula

• Definite crystalline structure

Why are minerals important?

• We need them to survive.

• We need them to make products we use each day.

• They come in many different shapes and sizes.

What type of minerals are used to make cars, planes, and electronics?

• Metallic minerals

• Nonmetallic minerals

What type of minerals are used in construction, glass, and computer chips?

• Metallic minerals

• Nonmetallic minerals

How are gemstones usually measured?

• Carat

• Cleavage

• Density

What is the splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces?

• Fracture

• Hardness

• Cleavage

What is a substance that is made of two or more elements that are chemically bonded together (ex: H20)?

• Luster

• Ore

• Compound

What is the measure of the amount of matter in a given volume?

• Luster

• Density

• Carat

What is the tendency of some minerals to break unevenly along curved or irregular surfaces?

• Cleavage

• Fracture

• Hardness

What is a mineral's resistance to being scratched?

• Fracture

• Density

• Hardness