what are the five characteristics a mineral must have
natural occuring, inorganic, has a crystal structure, solid, and a definite chemical composistion
What are the eight ways to identify a mineral
color, streak, luster, density, hardness, crystal systems, clevage and fracture, and special properties
streak
the color of a mineral's powder
luster
the term used to describe how light is reflected from a mineral's surface
Mohs hardness scale
a scale that ranks ten minerals from softest to hardest
clevage
a mineral that splits easily along flat surfaces
fracture
a mineral that breaks apart in an irregular way
what are the five special properties
magnetism, fluorescence, optical properties, reactivity, radioactivity, and electrical properties
geode
a rounded, hollow rock that is often lined h mineral crystals
crystallization
the process by which atoms are arranged to form a material with a crystal structure
magma
molten material from inside the Earth
Lava
magma that reaches the surface
how do minerals form from magma and lava
as hot magma cools inside Earth, or as lava hardens on the surface
solution
a mixture in which one substance is dissolved in another
what occurs when elements and compounds that are dissolved in water leave a solution
crystallization
vein
a narrow channel or slab of a mineral that is different from the surrounding rock
gemstone
a hard, colorful mineral that has a glassy luster
ore
a rock that contains a metal or other useful minerl that can be mined and sold at a profit
smelting
when an ore is mixed with other substances and then melted
alloy
a solid mixture of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal
texture
the look and feel of the rock's surface
what are the three different things geologists use to describe a rock's texture
grain size, grain shape, and grain pattern
what are the three groups geologists classify rocks into
igneous rock, sedimentary rock, and metamorphic rock
igneous rock
forms from the cooling of magma or lava
sedimentary rock
forms when particles of other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together
metamorphic rock
forms when an existing rock is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reaction
how are igneous rocks classified
according to their orgin, texture, and mineral compossistion
what are the two kinds of igneous rock
extrusive rock and intrusive rock
extrusive rock
igneous rock formed from lava that erupted onto Earth's surface
intrusive rock
igneous rock that is formed when magma hardens beneath Earth's surface
silica
a material formed from oxygen and silicon
sediment
small, solid piecesof material that come from rock or living things
what is the process in which a sedimentary rock is formed
erosion, deposistion, compaction, and cemention
erosion
running water, wind or ice loosen and carry away fragments of rock
deposistion
the process by which sediment settles out of the water or wind carrying it
compaction
the process that presses sediment together
cemention
the process in which dissolved minerals crystallize and glue particles of sediment together
what are the three groups of sedimentary rock
clastic rocks, organic rocks, and chemical rocks
clastic rock
a sedimentary rock that forms when rock fragments are squeezed together.
organic rock
forms where the remains of plants and animals are deposited in thick layers
chemical rock
forms when minerals that are dissolved in a solution crystallize
coral reef
skeletons that grow together to form a structure
how do geologists classify metamorphic rock
according to the arrangment of the grains that make up the rocks
what are the two kinds of metamorphic rocks
foliated rocks and nonfoliated rocks
foliated
metamorphic rocks that have their grains arranged in parallel layers
rock cycle
a series of processes on Earth's surface and in the crust and mantle that slowly change rocks from one kind to another