click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Minerals-chap. 3
vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| mineral | a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and an orderly arrangement of atoms |
| crystal | a solid in which the atoms are arranged in orderly, repeating patterns |
| magma | hot melted rock |
| silicate | minerals that contain silicon and oxygen and usually one or more other elements |
| hardness | a measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched |
| luster | the way a mineral reflects light |
| specific gravity | the ratio of a minerals weight compared with the weight of an equal volume of water |
| streak | the color of a mineral when it is in a powdered form |
| cleavage | minerals that break along smooth, flat surfaces |
| fracture | minerals that break with an uneven, rough, or jagged surfaces |
| gem | highly prized minerals because they are rare and beautiful |