| A | B |
|---|
| mineral | Naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition. |
| crystal | A solid in which the atoms are arranged in a pattern that repeats again and again. |
| streak | The color of a mineral's powder. |
| luster | The way a mineral reflects light from its surface. |
| Mohs hardness scale | A scale ranking ten minerals from softest to hardest; used in testing the hardness of minerals. |
| cleavage | A mineral’s ability to split easily along flat surfaces. |
| fracture | The way a mineral looks when it breaks apart in an irregular way. |
| geode | A hollow rock inside which mineral crystals have formed. |
| smelting | The process in which ore is melted to separate the metal from other materials |
| gemstone | A hard, colorful mineral that has a brilliant or glassy luster. |
| inorganic | Not formed from living things or the remains of living things. |
| density | mass divided by volume |
| compound | two or more elements chemically combined; have a formula |
| element | cannot be broken down into simpler substances; found on the periodic table |
| ore | rock that contains a metal or useful mineral that can be mined and sold |
| alloy | solid mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal |
| hardness | measures the mineral's resistance to being scratched |
| magma | molten rock under the Earth's crust |
| lava | molten rock on the surface of the Earth |
| prospector | searches for ore to be mined |
