| A | B |
|---|
| Mineral | Is a naturally occurring inorganic crystalline solid that has a definite composition |
| Ore | Are the rocks that contain one or more minerals that are the source of elements or compounds. |
| Compound mineral | Are more complicated than simple chemical compounds. |
| Native mineral | Few minerals made of atoms of just one element |
| mineralogist | Geologists that look at the physical and chemical properties of small samples taken from the location of study |
| Streak (test) | A streak of powder by rubbing a surface with a surface with a sample |
| Luster | Is the amount and quality of the light that it reflects from its surface. |
| Cleavage | A property of some minerals that easily split along distinct planes |
| Fracture | Minerals without cleavage planes |
| Hardness | A mineral’s ability to resist scratching that relates to the strength of it’s crystal structure |
| Mohs scale | Rating the relative hardness of a mineral |
| Specific gravity | The ratio of a minerals density to the density of water |
| Acid test | A test used to identify certain minerals by observing their reaction |
| Silicate | A mineral's family composed of minerals that contain silicon and oxygen |
| Oxide | Mineral made of oxygen and some other elements usually a metal |
| Sulfide | Minerals made of one or more metals and sulfur |
| Carbonate | Minerals containing one or more metals ions and the carbonate ion |
| Halide | Mineral salt compounds |
