click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
6th Science Ch 3 Voc
Science Vocabulary Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| streak | color of a mineral when it is in powdered form |
| hardness | a measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched |
| color | the distinctive yellow of sulfur |
| crystal | solid in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating pattern |
| silicate | describes a mineral that contains silicon and oxygen and usually one or more other elements |
| cleavage | physical property of some minerals that causes them to break along smooth, flat 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 |
| luster | describes a way a mineral reflects light from its surface; can be metallic or nonmetallic |
| mineral | naturally occurring inorganic solid that has a definite chemical composition and an orderly internal atomic structure |
| fracture | physical property of some minerals that causes them to break with uneven, rough, or jagged surfaces |
| magma | hot, melted rock material beneath Earth's surface |
| specific gravity | ratio of a mineral's weight compared with the weight of an equal volume of water |
| beauty and rarity | qualities of a stone that make it a gemstone |
| usefulness and profitability | qualities of a mineral that classify it as an ore |