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ES - Ch 3 - Minerals
Minerals
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Mineral | Naturally occurring inorganic solid that has 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 | Describes a mineral that contains silicon and oxygen and usually one or more other elements. |
Hardness | Measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched. |
Streak | Color of a mineral when it is in powdered form. |
Luster | Describes the way a mineral reflects light from its surface; can be metallic or nonmetallic. |
Cleavage | Physical property of some minerals that causes them to break along smooth, flat surfaces. |
Specific Gravity | Ratio of a mineral's weight compared with the weight of an equal volume of water. |
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. |