Mineral Properties

Front

What is an Element?

Back

A substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance by ordinary chemical changes.

Front

What does Hardness refer to in minerals?

Back

The property of a mineral that describes its resistance to scratching.

Front

Define a Crystal.

Back

A solid substance in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating, three-dimensional pattern.

Front

What is Luster in terms of mineral properties?

Back

The property of a mineral that describes the way it reflects light.

Front

What is Streak in mineralogy?

Back

The color of the powdered form of a mineral.

Front

What is Cleavage in minerals?

Back

The tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces.

Front

Define Specific Gravity.

Back

The ratio of the density of a mineral to the density of water.

Front

What is the Mohs Scale?

Back

A scale that ranks minerals based on their hardness from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

What is the difference between a Rock and a Mineral?

Back

A rock is a solid aggregate of one or more minerals, while a mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition.

Front

What is the significance of a mineral's Color?

Back

Color can help identify a mineral, but it can be misleading due to impurities.