Science Vocabulary: Chapters 3-4
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Created by:
metsfan1001 on October 23, 2009
Subjects:
science, science vocabulary, chapters 3-4
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29 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 mineral | naturally formed, inorganic solid with a crystalline structure |
| element | pure substances that cannot be broken down into simplier substances by ordinary chemical means |
| atom | smallest part of an element that has all the properties of that element |
| compound | a substance made of two or more elements that have been chemically joined |
| crystal | solid, geometric forms of minerals produced by a repeating pattern of atoms that is present throughout the mineral |
| silicate mineral | a mineral that contains sulfur and oxygen |
| nonsilicate mineral | a mineral that doesn't contain sulfur and oxygen |
| luster | the way a surface reflects light |
| streak | the color of a mineral in powdered form |
| cleavage | the tendency of some minerals to break along flat surfaces |
| fracture | the tendency of some minerals to break unevenly along curved or irregular surfaces |
| hardness | refers to a mineral's resistance to being scratched |
| density | the measure of how much matter there is in a given amount of space |
| ore | used to describe a mineral deposit large enough and pure enough to be mined for a profit |
| reclamation | a way to reduce the harmful effects of mining by returning the land to its original state after the mining is completed |
| rock | a solid mixture of crystals of one or more minerals |
| rock cycle | the process by which one rock type changes into another |
| sedimentary rock | forms when sediments are compacted and cemented together |
| metamorphic rock | forms when the texture and composition of a preexisting rock is changed by heat or pressure deep underground |
| igneous rock | forms from the cooling of magma |
| magma | the hot liquid that forms when rock partially or completely melts |
| composition | the minerals the rock is made of |
| texture | determined by the sizes, shapes, amd position of the grains of which it is made |
| intrusive | magma cooling to rock beneath Earth's surface |
| extrusive | magma cooling to rock on Earth's surface |
| strata | layers of sedimentary rock |
| stratifictation | layering of sedimentary rock |
| foliated | metamorphic rock consiting of minerals that are aligned |
| nonfoliated | metamorphic rock that doesn't have a regular pattern |
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