Term
Mineral
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| A naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition. (p 47) |
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Term
Inorganic
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| Not formed from living things or the remains of living things. (p 47) |
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Term
Crystal
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| A solid in which the atoms are arranged in a pattern that repeats again and again. (p 48) |
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Term
Element
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| A substance composed of a single atom. (p 48,299) |
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Term
Compound
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| A substance in which two or more elements are chemically joined. (p 48) |
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Term
Mohs Hardness Scale
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| A scale ranking ten minerals from softest to hardest; used in testing the hardness of minerals. (p 49) |
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Term
Streak
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| The color of a mineral's powder. (p 50) |
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Term
Luster
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| The way a mineral reflects light from its surface. (p 51) |
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Term
Cleavage
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| A mineral's ability to split along flat surfaces. (p 53) |
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Term
Fracture
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| The way a mineral looks when it breaks apart in an irregular way. (p 53) |
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Term
Fluorescence
(2:1 Properties of Minerals) |
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Definition
| The property of a mineral in which the mineral glows under untraviolet light. (p 54) |
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Term
Magma
(2:2 How Minerals Form) |
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Definition
| The molten mixture of rock-forming substances, gases, and water that makes up part of Earth's mantle. (pp 47,178) |
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Term
Lava
(2:2 How Minerals Form) |
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Definition
| Magma that reaches the surface; also the rock formed when liquid lava hardens. (p 57,178) |
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Term
Solution
(2:2 How Minerals Form) |
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Definition
| A mixture in which one substance is dissolved in another (p 58) |
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Term
Vein
(2:2 How Minerals Form) |
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Definition
| A narrow slab of a mineral that is sharply different from the surrounding rock (p 58) |
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Term
Gemstone
(2:3 Mineral Resources) |
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Definition
| A hard, colorful mineral that has a brilliant or glassy luster. (p 63) |
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Term
Ore
(2:3 Mineral Resources) |
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Definition
| Rock that contains a metal or economically useful mineral. (p 63) |
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Term
Smelting
(2:3 Mineral Resources) |
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Definition
| The process by which ore is melted to separate the useful metal from other elements. (p 66) |
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Term
Alloy
(2:3 Mineral Resources) |
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Definition
| A solid mixture of two or more metals. (p 66) |
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