Cleavage The physical property of some minerals that cause them to break along smooth, flat surfaces

Crystal A solid in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating 3D pattern

Element A substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler substance by ordinary chemical changes. An element consists of atoms of only one type

Fracture The physical property of some minerals that causes them to break into irregular, uneven, rough, or jagged surfaces

Gem A beautiful, rare, highly prized mineral usually found in jewelry

Hardness The resistance of a mineral to being scratched; it is determined by the arrangement of the mineral’s atoms

lava Molten rock that reaches a planet’s surface through a volcano

Luster The property that describes the way a mineral reflects light from its surface; can be metallic or nonmetallic

Magma Molten rock material beneath Earth’s surface

Mineral A naturally occurring, inorganic solid, with a definite chemical makeup, and crystal structure

Ore A rock that contains enough of a valuable mineral to be mined for profit

Silicate A mineral that contains silicon and oxygen and usually one or more other elements

Streak The color of a mineral in powdered form

Crystal Structure A mineral’s _____________________ will be one of the following 6 shapes: cubic, tetragonal, hexagonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, triclinic