Earth Materials and Resources

These flashcards cover key concepts, definitions, and characteristics associated with earth materials, minerals, rocks, and processes related to their formation.

Minerals

Naturally occurring, inorganic substances with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Mineralogy

The study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals.

Luster

The way light reflects off a mineral's surface; can be described as metallic, vitreous, silky, dull, etc.

Hardness

A mineral's resistance to scratching; measured using Moh's scale.

Streak

The color of a mineral in powdered form, useful for distinguishing minerals.

Cleavage

The property of some minerals to break along planes of weakness, producing smooth, flat surfaces.

Fracture

The irregular and non-planar breaking of a mineral that lacks cleavage.

Specific Gravity

A measure of a mineral's density, compared to the density of water.

Silicates

The most common rock-forming minerals, composed of silicon and oxygen.

Igneous Rock

Rocks formed through the cooling of magma or lava.

Magma

Molten rock material beneath the Earth's surface.

Lava

Molten rock material that has been expelled onto the Earth's surface.

Intrusive Igneous Rock

Rocks formed from magma that cools slowly beneath the surface.

Extrusive Igneous Rock

Rocks formed from lava that cools quickly on the Earth's surface.

Foliated Metamorphic Rock

Rocks characterized by a layered or banded appearance due to heat and pressure.

Non-foliated Metamorphic Rock

Rocks that lack a layered appearance and are formed under different conditions than foliated rocks.

Metamorphism

The process of change in the physical structure and mineral composition of a rock due to heat and pressure.

Strata

Layers of sedimentary rocks that record the environmental conditions of their deposition.

Lithification

The process by which sediments are transformed into sedimentary rock.

Minerals are _ occurring, inorganic substances with a definite chemical composition.

Naturally

The study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals is known as _.

Mineralogy

The way light reflects off a mineral's surface is described as _.

Luster

A mineral's resistance to scratching is measured using _ scale.

Moh's

The irregular breaking of a mineral that lacks cleavage is referred to as _.

Fract