click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
minerals
mineral vocab
| word | definition |
|---|---|
| mineral | naturally occuring inorganic solid that had a definite chemical composition and an orderly internal atomic structure |
| crystal | solid in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating pattern |
| magma | hot, melted rock material beneath Earth's surface |
| silicate | mineral that contains silicon and oxygen and usually one or more other elements |
| hardness | measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched |
| luster | describes the way a mineral reflects light from its surface; can be matallic or nonmetallic |
| streak | color of a mineral when it is in powdered form |
| cleavage | physical property of some minerals that causes them to break along smooth, flat surfaces |
| fracture | physical property of some minerals that causes them to break with uneven, rough, or jagged surfaces |
| gem | beautiful, rare, highly prized mineral that can be worn in jewelry |
| ore | deposit in which a mineral exists in large enough amounts to be mined at a profit |