Download Science Flashcards

Science Flashcards
“Earth’s Minerals”
What are minerals?
Solid materials of Earth’s crust
Give two examples of minerals that are made of one element
Gold, silver, and copper
What do scientists identify to classify minerals?
Elements and compounds
As minerals form, their atoms and molecules fall into __________________
Fixed patterns
These patterns cause minerals to form _____________
Crystals
True or False. No two minerals are exactly the same.
True
Why is crystal shape not the only property used to tell minerals apart?
It is not easy to tell the crystal shape
What is luster?
The way light bounces off a mineral
What is hardness?
A measure of how well a mineral resists scratching
What is cleavage?
The tendency of a mineral to break along a flat surface
What is streak?
The color of the powder left when a mineral is rubbed against a hard, rough surface
Many minerals do not break smoothly, they ___________________.
Fracture
Give one example of a material that has a special property to help us identify it.
Magnetite is attracted by a magnet
What does it mean that a mineral is denser than others?
It has a lot of mass packed into a given volume
What are most minerals called because they are made of two or more elements?
Chemical compounds
What are the five properties used to identify minerals?
Luster, hardness, cleavage, streak, and crystal property