| A | B |
|---|
| Mineral | A naturally occurring inorganic solid that has a definite chemical composition and an orderly internal atomic structure |
| Crystal | A solid in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating pattern |
| Magma | Hot, melted rock material beneath Earth’s surface |
| Silicate | Describes a mineral that contains silicon and oxygen and usually one or more other elements |
| Gem | A beautiful, rare, highly prized mineral that can be worn in jewelry |
| Ore | A deposit in which a mineral exists in large enough amounts to be mined at a profit |
| Hardness | Measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched |
| Luster | Describes the way a mineral reflects light from its surface; can be metallic or nonmetallic |
| Specific gravity | Ratio of a mineral’s weight compared with the weight of an equal volume of water |
| Streak | Color of a mineral when it is in powdered form |
| Cleavage | Physical property of some minerals that causes them to break along smooth, flat surfaces |
| Fracture | Physical property of some minerals that causes them to break with uneven, rough, or jagged surfaces |
