| A | B |
|---|
| minerals | naturally occuring, inorganic, crystalline solid that has a definite chemical composition and an orderly arrangement of atoms |
| crystal | solid in which the atoms are arranged in repeating patterns |
| magma | hot melted rock material that forms large crystals when it cools slowly and small crystals when it cools rapidly |
| silicate | mineral that contains silicon and oxygen and usually one or more other elements |
| hardness | a measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched |
| luster | describes how light reflects from a mineral's surface (metallic or nonmetallic) |
| streak | color of a mineral when it is powdered |
| cleavage | property of a mineral that allows it to break along smooth, flat planes |
| fracture | property of a mineral that causes it to break with rough or jagged edges |
| gem | highly priced, valuable mineral that is bright and colorful and often is cut and polished for jewelry |
| ore | mineral or rock that contains a useful substance that can be mined at a profit |
