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Mineral Vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
mineral | A naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite crystalline structure. |
element | Pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by ordinary chemical means. |
compound | A substance made of two or more elements that have been chemically joined or bonded. |
crystal | Solid geometric forms of minerals produced by repeating pattern of atoms or molecules that is present throughout the mineral are called crystals. |
silicate mineral | Minerals that contain a combination of these two elements are called silicate minerals. |
nonsilicate mineral | Minerals that do not contain a combination of the elements silicon and oxygen form a group called the nonsilicate minerals. |
luster | The way a surface reflects light. |
streak | The color of a mineral in powdered form is called the minerals streak. |
cleavage | Is the tendency of some minerals to break along smooth, flat surfaces. |
fracture | Is the tendency of some minerals to break unevenly along curved or irregular surfaces. |
hardness | A minerals resistance to being scratched is called hardness. |
density | Is the measure of how much matter is in a given amount of space. |
ore | It describes a mineral deposit large enough and pure enough to be mined for profit. |
reclaimation | The process by which land used for mining is returned to its original state or better is called reclainmation |
pegamatites | As magma moves upward it can form a teardrop shaped bodies called pegmatites |
plutons | As magma rises upward through the crust it sometimes stops moving before it reaches the surface and cools slowly, forming millions of mineral crystals. eventually the entire magma body solidifies to form a pluton |