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Minerals-chap. 3
vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
mineral | a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and an orderly arrangement of atoms |
crystal | a solid in which the atoms are arranged in orderly, repeating patterns |
magma | hot melted rock |
silicate | minerals that contain silicon and oxygen and usually one or more other elements |
hardness | a measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched |
luster | the way a mineral reflects light |
specific gravity | the ratio of a minerals weight compared with the weight of an equal volume of water |
streak | the color of a mineral when it is in a powdered form |
cleavage | minerals that break along smooth, flat surfaces |
fracture | minerals that break with an uneven, rough, or jagged surfaces |
gem | highly prized minerals because they are rare and beautiful |