PROPERTIES
properties that can be discovered just by looking at an object
appearance
the hard solid part of the earth's crust, made of a combination of minerals
rock
a person that studies rocks
geologist
many but not all minerals end in this suffix
ite
the size of the particles that make up a rock or mineral describes
texture
sedimentary rock
light passes easily through your sample
transparent
this is a soft mineral often found in baby powder
talc
way a sample splits along a plane of weakness
cleavage
rocks formed when magma or lava cools and hardens
igneous rock
some light passes through your sample, you cannot see through clearly
translucent
jewelry is often made of this mineral(s)
gold, silver
colored powder left behind when a mineral is rubbed on the a porcelain tile
streak
rocks changed by heat and pressure
metamorphic rock
no light passes through a sample
opaque
pots and pans are made of this mineral(s)
aluminum, iron
the poorest way to start identifying mineral samples
size of sample
the type of change erosion causes
physical change
scientists believe this part of the earth is made of solid metal
inner core
pencils are made of this mineral(s)
graphite, clay