Big Idea 6: Minerals

_____________ are solid, nonliving, naturally occurring substances with a definite chemical composition.

• minerals

• rocks

__________ is the appearance of a mineral (surface) due the absorption or reflection of certain light rays.

• color

• streak

• hardness

• luster

Color is a good way to identify minerals since most minerals are made in only one color.

• True

• False

__________ is the powder color a mineral leaves behind when it is rubbed on a rough surface.

• color

• hardness

• streak

• luster

A mineral that is harder than a streak plate will leave a _________ streak.

• blue

• yellow

• colorless (no streak)

• red

__________ is how a mineral appears when it reflects light from its surface.

• hardness

• color

• cleavage

• luster

What are the two main ways that luster can be classified?

• metallic and nonmetallic

• on a scale of 1-10

• cleavage and fracture

• pearly and iridescent

Earthy, waxy, oily, pearly, glassy, and silky all describe a mineral with a _________ luster.

• metallic

• nonmetallic

Shiny describes a mineral with a _________ luster.

• metallic

• nonmetallic

A mineral with a vitreous luster looks ________.

• earthy

• glassy

• pearly

• oily