Characteristics of Minerals
A mineral is always ____________. It will never be found in a liquid or gas form.
Solid
One of the most basic way to identify a mineral. This lead to pyrite fooling gold miners because of their similar __________.
Color
What is a rounded, hollowed out rock that is often lined with minerals?
Geode
This is the name of the scale used to rank the hardness of the minerals.
Mohs Hardness Scale
This is Mr. Alden's favorite kind of candy.
*Hint: Ben cannot eat them*
Reese's
Quartz forms as molten magma cools beneath Earth's surface. Since human interaction is not needed in this process, we say this is ______________ ____________________.
Naturally Occurring
This defines the way light is reflected from a mineral's surface or its shine.
Luster
When ocean animals such as clams and corals produce shells and skeletons made out of the mineral calcite, this is an example of what kind of process?
Organic
A mixture in which one substance is dissolved in another is called what.
What is Mr. Alden's least favorite subject to teach?
Writing
Every mineral must be able to form from materials that were not a part of living things. We call this an ______________ process.
Inorganic
This is the color of the mineral's powder. For example, pyrite will leave a greenish black one.
Streak
Minerals that form from magma takes thousands of years to cool and form. This leads to what size of crystals?
When a mineral breaks apart in an irregular way, this is called what?
Fracture
What is one of Mr. Alden's favorite animals?
Bear or Penguin
In a mineral, their particles line up in a patterns that repeats over and over again. This is called having a ___________ _____________.
Crystal Structure
This does not change no matter the size of a mineral. We use the equation of mass/volume to figure it out.
Density
When lava cools on the Earth's surface, it leaves behind small crystals. This is because lava cools __________.
Quickly
Geologist classify crystals by what two different ways?
1) # of faces
2) Angles faces meet
What year was Mr. Alden born?
1992
A mineral always contains certain elements in definite proportions. This is called having a definite _______________ ___________________.
Chemical Composition
This is determined by a scratch test. Diamond is the best when it comes to this property because it can scratch all other known minerals.
Hardness
This is a narrow channel or slab of a mineral that is different from the surrounding rock is called what?
A Vein
This property of a mineral allows it to split apart easily along a flat surface.
*Think of the mineral mica*
Cleavage
What kind of dog does Mr. Alden have?
Miniature Dachshund