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Definition
| Inorganic, naturally occurring substances that have a characteristic chemical composition, disinctive physical properties, and crystalline structure. Formed by natural processes and synthetic analogs. |
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| An orderly three-dimensional arrangement of atoms or molecules. |
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| Aggregates of one or more kinds of minerals. |
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| Materials with crystalline structures. |
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| "Minerals" without crystalline structures that never form crystals, they are not true minerals. Ex. Limonite (rust) & Opal |
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| The main minerals observed in rocks. |
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| The main minerals used to manufacture physical materials of industrialized societies. |
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| Manufactured by organisms. |
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Definition
1.) Color
2.) Crystal Form (Habit)
3.) Luster
4.) Streak
5.) Hardness
6.) Cleavage & Fracture
7.) Special Properties |
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Definition
| Usually most noticeable property and may be a clue to its identity. One color usually means one kind of mineral whereas moret han one color usually means more than on kind of mineral. Minerals cannot be identified solely on the basis of its color. Most minerals also tend to exhibit one color on freshly broken surfaces and a different color on tarnished or weathered surfaces. However it is a very unreliable property. |
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Definition
| color or lack of color. Can be transparent, translucent, or opaque. |
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| Clear and see-through, like window glass |
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| Foggy, like looking through a steamed-up shower door. |
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| Impervious to light, like concrete and metals. |
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| Geometric shapes like cubes, pyramids, or prisms. Is an external feature. |
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| The characteristic crystal form of a mineral |
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| Solid Crystalline Substance |
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Definition
| Excludes gases and liquids |
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| Specific Crystal Structure |
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Definition
| Structural framework of atoms arranged in a geometric pattern. (2 kinds: Crystalline & Amorphous) |
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Definition
| Lack an ordered atomic arrangement. Ex. glass (type of specific crystal structure) |
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| The general appearance of a mineral surface in reflected light. Can be Metallic and Non-Metallic. |
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Definition
| The external expression of a mineral that reflects the orderly internal arrangement of atoms. |
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Term
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Definition
1- Talc
2- Gypsum
2.5- Fingernail
3- Calcite
3- Copper Coin (penny)
4.5- Wire (iron) nail
5.5- Glass
6- Orthoclase Feldspar
6.5- Streak Plate
7- Quartz
10- Diamond |
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Term
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Definition
| Reflect light. Have opaque, reflective surfaces with a silvery, gold, brassy or coppery sheen. |
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| Luster unlike that of the metal objects in your home. Can also be described as: vitreous, waxy, pearly, satiny, earthy, greasy, and porcelaneous. |
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| Resembling the luster of freshly broken glass or a glossy photograph. |
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| Resembling the luster of a candle. |
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| Resembling the luster of a pearl. |
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| Resembling the luster of satin or silk cloth. |
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| Lacking reflection, completely dull, like dry soil. |
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| Resembling the luster of grease, oily. |
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| Resembling the luster of porcelain (translucent white ceramic ware). |
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| The color of a mineral's fine powder. Very specific colors. |
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Definition
| The tendency of minerals to break parallel to atomic planes. A reflection of internal structure of the mineral. Results from different bonding strengths in different directions within a structure. Can be described as: excellent, good, or poor. |
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Definition
| Reflects light in one direction from a set of obvious, large, flat, parallel surfaces. |
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| Reflects light in one direction from a set of many, small, obvious, flat, parallel surfaces. |
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| Reflects light from a set of small, flat, parallel surfaces that are difficult to detect. |
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Definition
| Breakage within a crystal that generally does not follow along a cleavage plane. Results from crystal structures where the bond strength is approximately the same in all directions. Normally NOT flat and NEVER occur in parallel sets. Can be: uneven, splintery, hackly, and conchoidal fractures. |
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Definition
| Fractures that are rough like Milky Quartz. |
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| Fractures that are splintered like wood. |
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| Fractures having jagged edges. |
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| Fracture like glass-along ribbed, smoothly curved surfaces |
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Definition
| Effervescence, Magnetism, Feel, and Taste. |
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Definition
| Minerals activated by acid. Ex. Carbonate minerals (minerals whose chemical composition includes carbonate) Calcite is the most popular. |
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Definition
| Manner in which a substance resists breakage. Can be brittle, malleable, sectile, and elastic or flexible. |
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Definition
| Straight "hairline" grooves on the cleavage surfaces of some minerals. |
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Definition
| Molten rock exists in isolated bodies below Earth's surface. Contains dissolved gaes and tiny crystals that may grow in size or abundance as the magma cools. |
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Definition
| A body of magma that pushes its way into Earth's crust and will eventually cool to form coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock. |
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| Plutonic. Comprised of visible mineral crystals. Can be pegmatitic, phaneritic, or porphyritic texture. Lots of large crystals which means the molten rock cooled slowly. |
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Form when molten rock cools to a solid state. Formed from the “ignis” or fire from the earth’s core.
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| Rock liquefied by intense heat and pressure. |
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| Volcanic. Comprised of tiny crystals and or glass. Smaller crystals indicate that the magma cooled more rapidly. Can be porphyritic, aphanitic, pyroclastic or fragmental, glassy, or vesicular texture. |
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| Massive intrusions that have no visible bottom. They form when small bodies of lava amalgamate into one large body. |
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Definition
NM Luster
2.5-3 Hardness
Gray-Brown Streak
Color black, green-black, or brown-black; cleavage excellent; forms very short prisms that split easily into very thin flexible sheets; SG= 2.7-3.1 |
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Term
Pyroxene Calcium
(aka augite) |
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Definition
NM Luster
5.5-6 Hardness
White to Pale Gray Streak
Color dark green to gray; forms short, 8-sided prisms; two good cleavages that intersect at 87 degree and 93 degree. SG= 3.2-3.5 |
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Definition
NM Luster
3 Hardness
White Streak
Usually colorless, white, or yellow, but may be green, brown, or pink; opaque or transparent; excellent cleavage in 3 directions not at 90 degree; forms prisms, rhombohedrons, or scalenohedrons that break into rhombohedrons; Effervesces in dilute HCl; SG=2.7 |
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Term
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Definition
Metallic Luster
2.5 Hardness
Gray to Dark Gray Streak
Color bright silvery gray; Tarnishes dull gray; Forms cubes and octahedrons; Brittle; Cleavage good in 3 directions, so breaks into cubes; SG= 7.4-7.6 |
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Term
| Difference Between a Mineral and a Rock |
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Definition
| A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and crystal structure with specific colour and hardness. A rock is an aggregate of one or more minerals which are all firmly locked together to form a hard solid. Rocks are classified into three basic rock families: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Igneous rocks are formed from the “ignis” or fire from the earth’s core; sedimentary rocks are formed by sediments accumulated over time; and metamorphic rocks are either of the first two classes of rock that have metamorphosed with high temperature and pressure over time into different rocks. |
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Definition
| Either of the first two classes of rock that have metamorphosed with high temperature and pressure over time into different rocks. |
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| Formed by sediments accumulated over time. |
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Definition
| Felsic, Intermediate, Mafic, and Ultra Mafic |
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Term
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Definition
| Light-colored minerals with high silica content (silica-rich). Contains Muscovite, quartz, k-feldspar, plagioclase feldspar, amphibole, and biotite. |
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Term
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Definition
| Contains felsic and mafic minerals. Composed of Quartz, K-Feldspar, Plagioclase Felspar, Pyroxene, Amphibole, & Biotite. |
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Definition
| "Dark-colored" Minerals with low silica content. Contains minerals with Mg and Fe in their chemical composition. Composed of Plagioclase feldspar, olivine, pyroxene, and amphibole. |
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Definition
| Lowet silica content. Contains Olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, & plagioclase feldspar. |
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Term
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Definition
Crystals > 1cm
Very slow cooling
Viscous magma
Good nucleation |
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Term
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Definition
Crystals 1-10 mm
Slow cooling
Viscous Magma
Good Nucleation |
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Definition
Large and small crystals
Slow, then rapid cooling
Change in magma viscosity or composition. |
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Definition
Crystals <1 mm
Rapid cooling, fluid lava, and/or good nucleatioin |
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Definition
| Rapid cooling and/or very poor nucleation |
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Vesicular Texture
(like meringue) |
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Definition
| Rapid cooling of gas-charged lave |
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Vesicular Texture
(some bubbles) |
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Definition
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Term
| Pyroclastic or Fragmental Texture |
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Definition
| Particles emitted from volcanoes |
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