Mineral Properties

How can you define a mineral?

• a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a definite crystalline structure and chemical composition

• a compound found in the Earth's crust

• an organic solid that can be formed naturally or in a factory

• a combination of atoms and compounds in a crystal formation

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

This word means that a mineral did NOT come from something once living

• inorganic

• organic

• naturally occurring

• not living

This means that atoms in a mineral line up in a pattern that repeats over and over again

• chemical composition

• crystal structure

• fracture

• solid

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

This is measured on the Mohs Scale

• cleavage

• luster

• hardness

• fracture

The _____ of a mineral is a physical property that is easy to observe and the least reliable for identification.

• chemical composition

• hardness

• color

• streak

This is how a mineral reflects light.

• cleavage

• hardness

• luster

• streak

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

________ is a property that describes a mineral that splits evenly along flat surfaces.

• cleavage

• hardness

• streak

• fracture

This describes how a mineral looks if it breaks in an irregular way.

• cleavage

• hardness

• streak

• fracture

90% of the minerals found in the Earth's crust are _________

• carbonates

• silicates

• sulfates

• halides

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

In order to be classified as a mineral it must be

• organic

• able to scratch a penny

• man-made

• solid