Characteristics of Minerals
What is a mineral?
Naturally, occurring, inorganic, solid with a definite chemical composition, and an orderly arrangement of atoms
What is the number of ways to form a mineral?
1. crystallization of magma (cools inside the crust) or lava (cools & hardens on the surface) 2. crystallization of materials dissolved in water.
What is the importance of color and appearance in identifying rocks and minerals?
These features help define and identify what the mineral or rock is.
What is a gem?
A cut or polished stone that can be used in creating jewelry. These are usually precious stones that are quite beautiful.
What is a crystal?
A crystal is a solid in which atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating pattern.
What is inorganic?
not alive
What is magma?
Hot, molten rock found in the Earth.
What is hardness?
How easily a mineral can be scratched.
What is ore?
A mineral or rock that contains a useful substance that can be mined for a profit.
What is fracture?
A fracture is a physical property of a mineral that causes the mineral to break with an uneven, rough or jagged surface.
What is naturally occurring?
Form naturally in Earth's processes
What happens when magma cools?
Atoms lose heat energy.
What is luster?
It is a feature that a mineral can have. This feature being, the minerals ability to shine, and reflect light.
Give 2 uses of diamonds?
Diamonds can be used as: 1. Industrial abrasives used as a cutting tools. 2. Jewelry or ornament.
What is cleavage?
A cleavage is a physical property of a mineral that causes it to break along smooth, and flat surfaces.
What is crystallin solid?
It is an orderly arrangement of the atoms.
What is a silicate?
Minerals that contain silicon and oxygen, and one other element
What is streak?
Streak refers to the color of a mineral when it is in its powdered form.
What is quartz used for? Give two examples.
This mineral is used for creating electronics, watches, clocks, petroleum industry, kitchenware, and interior design.
What is smelting?
Smelting is a process where heat is applied to an ore, to extract its base metal.
What is a characteristic of a mineral?
It is an element or a compound with definite composition.
What is Calcite?
Calcite is made of calcium and oxygen (carbonate).
What is specific gravity?
Specific gravity is a unitless measure. It is the ratio of the mass of a substance to the mass of an equal volume of water.
What are rubies used for? Give 2 examples.
This mineral is used in creating lasers, watch making, jewelry, and medical instruments.
What is a mineral vein?
It is a layer of ore found between layers of rock.