Properties of Minerals
Identifying Minerals
Identifying Minerals (Cont.)
Classifying Rocks
Rocks
100
Naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition
What is a mineral
100
This is the best way to identify a mineral. Friedrich Mohs, invented a test to describe and compare this.
What is Hardness
100
The crystals of each mineral grow atom by atom to form that mineral's particular ___________ ___________. These are classified into six groups based on the number and angle of the crystal faces.
What is Crystal Systems
100
A rock's ______________ is the look and feel of the rock's surface. Some rocks are smooth and glassy, others are rough or chalky.
What is Texture
100
This type of rock forms from the cooling of molten rock - either magma below the surface or lava at the surface.
What is Igneous Rock
200
A mineral cannot arise from materials that were once part of a living thing. What is this called
What is Inorganic
200
This is an easily observed physical property but it can be used to identify only those few minerals that always have their own characteristic ___________. Many minerals, however, occur in a variety of this.
What is Color
200
This mineral is lowest in hardness.
What is Talc
200
Rocks are made up of particles of minerals or other rocks which geologists call ________________. This gives rock its texture. To describe a rock's texture, geologists use a number of terms based on the size, shape, and pattern of the rock's _________
What is Grain
200
This is igneous rock formed from lava that erupted onto the Earth's surface.
What is Extrusive Rock
300
This has a definite volume and shape. The particles that make up this are packed together very tightly, so they cannot move like the particles that make up a liquid. This keeps its shape because its particles can't flow freely.
What is a Solid
300
This is the color of a minerals powder. Even though the color of the mineral may vary, this doesn't. The color of this and the mineral color are often different.
What is Streak
300
Minerals that glow under ultraviolet light have a property known as fluorescence. Magnetism occurs naturally in a few minerals. Some are radioactive. These are examples of what?
What is Special Properties
300
This type of rock is formed when an existing rock is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions. Most form deep underground.
What is Metamorphic Rock
300
Igneous rock that formed when magma hardened beneath the Earth's surface is called _________?
What is Intrusive Rock
400
The particles of a mineral line up in a pattern that repeats over and over again. The repeating pattern of a mineral's particles form a solid called ______________. This has flat sides, called faces, that meet at sharp edges and corners.
What is a crystal
400
This is a term used to describe how a mineral reflects light from its surface. Terms to describe this are bright, metallic, earthy, waxy, and pearly.
What is Luster
400
This describes how a mineral looks when it breaks apart in an irregular way and forms jagged points.
What is Fracture
400
When studying a rock sample, geologists observe the rock's color and texture to determine this
What is Mineral Composition
400
Small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or living things.
What is Sediment
500
This means that a mineral always contains certain elements in definite proportions.
What is Definite Composition
500
This is the mass in a given space or mass per unit volume. No matter what the size of a mineral sample, this always remains the same.
What is Density
500
The way a mineral breaks apart can help to identify it. A mineral that splits easily along flat surfaces has the property called __________?
What is Cleavage
500
This type of rock forms when particles of other rocks or remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together. This forms in layers below the surface.
What is Sedimentary Rock
500
This occurs when running water or wind loosen and carry away the fragments of rock.
What is Erosion
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