| A | B |
|---|
| mineral | natural, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and particular crystalline structure |
| natural | formed in nature |
| inorganic | not made from living matter |
| cooling of magma | melted rock cools to form solid mineral crystals |
| precipitation | liquid solution containing minerals evaporated and minerals are left behind |
| silicates | silicon and oxygen |
| carbonates | carbon and oxygen |
| oxides | oxygen and a metal |
| sulfates | sulfur and oxygen |
| sulfides | sulfur and a metal |
| halides | chloride or fluoride and a metal |
| luster | how a mineral relfects light |
| metallic luster | galena |
| non metallic luster | quartz |
| streak | color mark left on a tile or streak plate |
| streak | never changes |
| color | unreliable due to impurities |
| cleavage | mineral breaks and forms a flat surface |
| fracture | mineral breaks and forms an uneven surface |
| specific gravity | mineral density - amount of matter in a specific volume |
| mica | cleavage |
| quartz | fracture |
| heft | field test for specific gravity |
| hardness | the ability of a mineral to resist being scratched |
| hardness | measured on Mohs scale |
| talc | softest mineral on Mohs scale |
| diamond | hardest mineral on Mohs scale |
| ore | a mineral or rock that contains usable amounts of a metal or earth material |
| smelting | the process of removing a metal from its ore |
| hematite | an iron ore - contains iron |
| gypsum | used in drywall |
| sulfur | used in paints, plastics, and fertilizers |
| halite | table salt, paper |
| talc | talcum powder |
| quartz | glass, watches |
| transducer | a device that changes energy from one form to another |
| quartz | a good transducer |
| gem | rare and beautiful minerals that are cut and polished to be used for ornaments |
| precious gems | rare and valuable |
| precious gems | diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds |
| semi-precious gems | not as rare, not as valuable |
| semi-precious gems | garnet, jade, opal, topaz |
| jewelry, drills, abrasives | uses of gems |
| alloy | pure metals recombined with other metals and nonmetals |
| alloy | steel |
| alloy | stainless steel |
| alloy | brass |
