Mineral Characteristics
Which characteristic means that minerals have a repeating pattern of atoms?
crystal structure
The powdered form of a mineral
streak
What is magma?
molten rock below the surface
A mineral formed by the evaporation of ocean water
halite
Minerals are grouped based on
chemical composition
Which characteristic means that minerals cannot have plant or animal material?
Inorganic
This property describes how resistant a mineral is to being scratched
hardness
What is lava?
Molten rock on the surface
A mineral that can be yellow, purple, green, or blue, and glows under certain types of light.
Fluorite
Minerals can be divided into two major groups which are
silicates and nonsilicates
Which characteristic means that minerals have chemical formula that is always the same?
Definite chemical composition
How a mineral reflects light
luster
Describe one way that minerals form.
magma cools slowly underground and crystals form
or
lava cools quickly on the surface and crystals form
or
water evaporate and leaves mineral crystals behind
A mineral that is brassy yellow, has a hardness around 6-6.5, and is often mistaken for gold.
pyrite (fool's gold)
Minerals that are silicates must have which two minerals?
silicon and oxygen (often bonded together)
Do rocks have the same characteristics as minerals? Explain why or why not.
No! Rocks are mixtures and can have organic material.
Why isn't color a good way to identify a mineral?
A mineral can be several different colors, and different minerals can be the same color.
What is crystallization?
Crystallization is when atoms bond and form different shapes
The mineral that is ranked at 1 on Moh's hardness scale
talc
Minerals that are carbonates are made of __________, ___________, and other minerals.
carbon and oxygen
Name all five characteristics of minerals.
Naturally occurring, solid, inorganic, definite chemical composition, crystal structure
The scientific way of describing the shape of crystals in a mineral
crystal habit
What is a mineral vein?
A long, narrow band of minerals deposited between rock layers
Can two minerals with the same hardness scratch each other?
Yes!
How are minerals classified as native elements different from other minerals?
Minerals that are native elements are made of one kind of atom.
(gold, aluminium, etc.)