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Geology Chap 5
Vocabulary
Question | Answer |
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Mineral | A natural, usually inorganic solid that has a characteristic chemical composition, an orderly internal structure, and a characteristic set of physical properties. |
Silicate Mineral | A mineral that contains a combination of silicon and oxygen and that may also contain one or more metals. |
Nonsilicate Mineral | A mineral that does not contain compounds of silicon and oxygen. |
Crystal | A solid whose atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a regular, repeating pattern. |
Silicon-oxygen Tetrahedron | The basic unit of the structure of silicate minerals; a silicon ion chemically bonded to and surrounded by four oxygen ions. |
Mineralogist | A person who examines, analyzes, and classifies minerals. |
Streak | The color of a mineral in powdered form. |
Luster | The way in which a mineral reflects light. |
Cleavage | The tendency of a mineral to split along specific planes of weakness to form smooth, flat surfaces. |
Fracture | The manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular surfaces. |
Mohs Hardness Scale | The standard scale against which the hardness of minerals is rated. |
Density | The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume of the substance; commonly expressed as grams per cubic centimeter for solids and liquids and as grams per liter for gases. |