U2S5 Minerals - Identification, Properties, and Formation

Vocabulary flashcards covering key minerals concepts, properties, formation, and common minerals from the lesson.

cleavage

The ability of a mineral to split apart easily along flat surfaces.

crystal

A solid form with a regularly repeating internal arrangement of atoms; a crystal has a repeating pattern.

density

The amount of mass in a given volume.

fluorescence

The emission of visible light by a substance.

inorganic

Not formed from living or once living materials.

luster

The way light is reflected from a mineral’s surface.

magnetism

The property of attracting certain metals.

mineral

A naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a crystal structure and definite chemical composition.

streak

The color of a mineral’s powder.

hardness

The ability of a mineral to resist scratching.

Mohs hardness scale

A scale ranking minerals by hardness, from talc (1) to diamond (10).

crystal systems

Classification of minerals by the number and angle of their crystal faces.

cleavage and fracture

How a mineral breaks: cleavage is along flat surfaces; fracture is an irregular break.

crystal structure

The arrangement of atoms in a mineral’s crystal lattice.

chemical composition

Minerals have a definite chemical composition, with certain elements in definite proportions; most are compounds.

color

The color of a mineral’s surface; color is not always a reliable ID.

formation

How minerals form—through crystallization of molten materials or from solutions.

crystallization of molten materials

The process by which molten material cools to form crystals; slower cooling yields larger crystals, faster cooling yields smaller crystals.

crystallization of materials dissolved in water

Minerals can crystallize from solutions when dissolved substances leave solution, via evaporation or hot-water solutions.

talc

Mohs hardness 1 (the softest mineral on the scale).

gypsum

Mohs hardness 2.

calcite

Mohs hardness 3.

quartz

Mohs hardness 7.

diamond

Mohs hardness 10; the hardest mineral on the scale.