EARTHSCIENCE

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Minerals

The Building Blocks of Rocks 

is a solid matter possessing a definite chemical structure that occur naturally but does not have life. It is commonly found in rocks. Some rocks are composed of two or more minerals.

Mineral

The building blocks of minerals which is made up of an atom is called __

The building blocks of minerals which is made up of an atom is called element. 

Crystal Form

describes the growth pattern of the crystals of the mineral species.

• It is largely determined by the environmental conditions under which a crystal develop.

Luster

refers to the is the quantity and quality of light that is reflected from the surface of a mineral.

Metallic Luster

are minerals that are opaque and very reflective possessing a high  absorptive index. that are opaque and very reflective possessing a high  absorptive index.

Nonmetallic luster

is minerals described by vitreous (glassy e.g. quartz), pearly, silky, resinous, earthy (dull). 

Submetallic

are minerals that have a somewhat metallic in luster.

is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans.

color

Streak

 is the color that the mineral displays when it has been in its powdered form. It is considered to be much reliable indication of color.

Hardness

defines the level of difficulty at which the smooth surface of the mineral can be scratched.

• This property is determined by rubbing the mineral against common objects like fingernails or penny  

• Mohs scale refers to standard hardness Diamond – hardest, having 10 on scale, Talc – softest, having 1 on scale

Fracture

takes place when a mineral splits in a direction possessing difficult indistinct cleavage 

• Conchoidal fracture

• Conchoidal fracture results in a series of smoothly 

       curved concentric rings about the stressed point, 

        generating a shell-like appearance 

Irregular fracture results in a rugged 

   or rough surface

results in a rugged or rough surface

cleavage

is the splitting of crystals along the smooth plane 

• The simplest type of cleavage is exhibited by micas

specific gravity

refers to the ratio of the weight of a mineral to the weight of an equal of water

Ore

refers to the type of rock that contains useful metallic minerals, like hematite (mined for iron) and galena (mined for lead), that can be mined for a profit, as well as some nonmetallic minerals, such as fluorite and sulfur.