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Chapter 2 Vocabulary
Chapter 2 Vocabulary - Rocks & Minerals
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Mineral | a substance that forms in nature, is solid, has a definite chemical makeup , and has a crystal structure |
| Element | a substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance; contains only one type of atoms |
| Crystal | solid substance in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating, three dimensional pattern |
| Streak | the color of the mineral powder left behind when scraped across a surface; a method of classifying minerals |
| Luster | the way in which a mineral reflects light; Metallic & Non Metallic |
| Cleavage | a mineral's tendency to break along flat surfaces |
| Fracture | a mineral's tendency to break into irregular pieces |
| Density | a property of matter representing the mass per unit volume |
| Hardness | the resistance of a mineral to be scratched |
| Magma | molten rock beneath the Earth's surface |
| Lava | molten rock that reaches the Earth's surface through a volcano |
| Ore | a rock that contains enough mineral to be mined for profit |