Front

What role does color play in identifying minerals?

Back

Color is identified but is used in conjunction with other mineral property tests.

Front

How do geologists determine the hardness of a mineral?

Back

Geologists use different tools to see which one can scratch the rock's surface.

Front

What is the difference between cleavage and hardness in minerals?

Back

Cleavage refers to the way a rock breaks, while hardness indicates how easily it can be scratched.

Front

What does the streak of a mineral refer to?

Back

The streak of a mineral refers to the color mark it leaves when scratched on a surface.

Front

Why is it important for geologists to understand the mineral composition of rocks?

Back

Understanding the mineral composition helps geologists determine how rocks were formed.

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Front

What are the main properties used to identify minerals?

Back

The main properties include color, hardness, streak, luster, and cleavage.

Front

How does luster help in identifying minerals?

Back

Luster describes how light reflects off the surface of a mineral, indicating its quality and type.

Front

What is the Mohs scale of hardness?

Back

The Mohs scale is a scale from 1 to 10 used to rank minerals based on their ability to scratch one another.

Front

What is the significance of a mineral's cleavage?

Back

Cleavage indicates the planes along which a mineral will break, which can help in its identification.