Term | Definition |
Mineral | a solid that is naturally occurring inorganic, and has a crystal structure and definite chemical composition. |
crystal structure | the orderly, repeating pattern of atoms in a crystal. |
crystallization | the process by which atoms form a solid with an orderly, repeating pattern. |
streak | the color of minerals powder. |
luster | the way a mineral reflects or obsorbs light on its surface |
cleavage | the breaking of a mineral on a smooth, flat surface. |
fracture | the breaking of a mineral along a rough or irregular surface. |
ore | a deposit o minerals that is large enough to be mined for a profit. |
rock | a naturally occurring solid composed of minerals |
grain | an individual particle in a rock |
magma | molten rock stored beneath the earths surface. |
lava | magma that erupts onto the earths surface |
texture | a rocks grain size and the way they fit together. |
sediment | rock material that forms when rocks are broken down into smaller pieces or dissolved in water as rocks erode. |
foliation | the texture that forms when uneven pressures cause flat minerals to line up, giving the rock a layerd look. |
lithification | the process through which sediment turns to rock. |
rock cycle | the series of processes that change one type of rock into another type of rock. |
extrusive rock | igneous rocks that form when volcanic material erupts, cools, and crystallizes on earths surface. |
intrusive rock | igneous rocks that form as magma cools underground |
uplift | the process that moves large bodies of earth materials to higher elevations. |
deposition | the process of changing directly from a gas to a solid |