Studied by 518 people
Physical Properties
the characteristics of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing the substance
Inorganic
Not formed from living things or the remains of living things
Mineral
a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition
Streak
the color of the powder of a mineral
Hardness
a measure of the ability of a mineral to resist scratching
Clarity
describes how well you can see through a chemical. (Transparent, Translucent, Opaque.)
Luster
the way a mineral reflects light from its surface (Metallic, waxy, vitreous, silky, pearly, and dull)
Vitreous
Glass like appearance
Cleavage
the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces
Fracture
the way a mineral looks when it breaks apart in an irregular way
Texture
the look and feel of a rock's surface
Crystallization
The process by which atoms are arranged to form a material with a crystal structure
Igneous rock
rock that forms when magma cools and solidifies
Metamorphic rock
rock that has been changed by heat and pressure
Sediments
Loose materials such as rock fragments, mineral grains, and bits of shell that have been moved by wind, water, ice, or gravity
Sedimentary rock
A type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together
Pressure
the amount of force exerted per unit area of a surface
Rock cycle
A series of processes on the surface and inside Earth that slowly changes rocks from one kind to another
Weathering
The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.
Fossil
The preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived in the past
Compaction
the process by which sediments are pressed together under their own weight
Cementation
The process by which dissolved minerals crystallize and glue particles of sediment together into one mass.
Mantle
The layer of hot, solid material between Earth's crust and core.
Erosion
The process by which wind, water, ice, or gravity transports soil and sediment from one location to another
Deposition
The process by which sediments settles out of water or wind that is carrying it and is deposited in a new area
Crust
The layer of rock that forms Earth's outer surface.
Outer Core
A layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth
Inner Core
A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth
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