Isotopes
1. Varieties of the same elements that have different mass numbers; their nucleus has the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.
Crystal Form
2. The external appearance of a mineral as determined by its internal arrangement of atoms.
Atom
The smallest part that exists as an element, i.e. oxygen.
Mohs Scale
A series of ten minerals used as a standard in determining hardness.
Fracture
Any break or rupture in the rock along which no movement has taken place.
Mineral
A naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline material with a unique chemical composition
Carbonate Group
Mineral group whose members contain the carbonate ion [CO2] and one or more kinds of positive ions.
Hardness
The resistance a mineral offers to scratching.
Luster
The appearance or quality of the light reflected from a mineral.
Cleavage
The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bondage.
Streak
The color of a mineral in the powdered form.
Specific Gravity
The ratio of the subject's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water.
Silicate
Anyone of numerous minerals that have the oxygen silicon tetrahedron as their base.
Ore
Usually a useful metallic mineral that can be mined at a profit.
Quartz
The second most common rock forming mineral, the only common mineral made of silicon and oxygen.
Compound
A substance formed by the chemical combination of two or more elements in definite proportions and usually having properties different from those of its constituent elements.
Feldspar
The most common group of minerals.
Element
A substance that can't be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemical or physical means.
Atomic Number
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Electron
A negatively charged subatomic particle that has a negligible mass and is found outside an atom's nucleus.
Nucleus
The small heavy core of an atom that contains all of its positive charge and most of its mass.
Ion
An atom or molecule that possesses an electrical charge.
Proton
A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom
Silicon-Oxygen Tetradedron
A structure composed of four oxygen atoms surrounding a silicon atom that constitutes the basic building block of silicate minerals.
Mass Number
The number of neutrons and protons in the nucleus of an atom.
Neutron
A subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom. The particle is electrically neutral and has a mass approximately 1 AMU.
Energy Level
The region a that an electron occupies the is a certain distance from the nucleus.
Rock
A consolidated mixture of minerals