Earth Science

Vocab List

mineral- naturally occurring inorganic solid substance with a definite soil substance with a definite chemical composition and structure
rock- a group of minerals bound together
color- first and most easily observed mineral property
luster- way the mineral shines in reflected light
streak- the color of a mineral when powdered or rubbed on a streak plate
hardness- the resistance of a mineral scratching
cleavage-the tendency of mineral to split easily along planes parallel to the crystal faces, leaving smooth, flat surfaces in one or more directions
crystal shape- the pattern mineral's ions or atoms form if there is enough time and room to grow
specific gravity- the ratio of the weight of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of water
taste- have flavor
magnetism- attraction for iron
acid reaction- a chemical reaction produced by an acid
double refraction- division of a single incident light ray or other electromagnetic wave into two separate rays in an anisotropic medium
Moh's Scale of Hardness- characterizes the scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material
silicates- compounds of the elements silica and oxygen; they include more than 90% of the mineral's in Earth's crust
carbonate- ion group of one carbon atom combined with three oxygen atoms and having a negative charge of two
sulphide- compound of bivalent sulfur with an electropositive element or group, especially a binary compound of sulfur with a
native minerals- minerals composed of single elements; also called native elements
oxide- any compound of oxygen with another element or a radical
rock cycle- a fundamental concept in geology that describes the dynamic transitions through geologic time among the three main rock types: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous
igneous rocks- rocks formed by the solidification of hot molten rock material called magma
intrusive- forced while molten into cracks between...