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What 4 characteristics must something have to be a mineral?
naturally occuring, inorganic, definite chemical makeup, crystalline solid
What are the 2 main families of rock forming minerals?
silicates and nonsilicates
Of the 30 common minerals, 10 are called
rock forming minerals
_________occurs when particles dissolved in a liquid solidify
crystallization
Minerals can form when ________ substances in water crystalize
dissoved
Minerals can form from dissolved substances in solutions or from ______
molten rock
Which process causes minerals to form from a shallow lake during dry conditions
evaporation
The color of a mineral in powdered form
streak
The way a mineral reflects/absorbs light
luster
A minerals resistance to being scratched
hardness
What scale do we use to measure a mineral's hardness?
Moh's Scale
What is the difference between cleavage and fracture?
cleavage- breaks with smooth flat surfaces, fracture- breaks in uneven surfaces
What is the softest mineral?
talc
