MINERALS VOCABULARY

BE FAMILIAR WITH THE FOLLOWING TERMS

ATOM -The smallest particle of matter that exists as an element.

ATOMIC NUMBER - the number of protons in an atom - determines the element.

CLEAVAGE - the property of a mineral to break along weak atomic bonding .

COLOR - the color is determined by the chemical make up of the mineral least reliable quality of a mineral as many minerals come in a variety of colors and many minerals are the same color.

COMPOUND - two or more atoms bonded together in definite proportions. Usually having properties of its constituent elements.

COVALENT BOND - Atomic/chemical bond achieved by the sharing of electrons.

CRYSTAL - the outward appearance of the orderly atomic structure of an atom.

ELECTRON - sub atomic particle with negative charge.

ELEMENT – a substance that cannot be broken down to simpler substances by ordinary chemical means.

FERROMAGNESIAN – Mineral group that contain iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg).

FRACTURE – irregular breaking of a mineral when there are no weak planes of bonding.

HARDNESS - a minerals resistance to abrasion.

ION – an atom or molecule that possesses a positive or negative charge.

IONIC BOND – a chemical bond between two oppositely charged ions formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to the other.

ISOTOPE – a variety of an element that have different mass numbers.

LUSTER – the appearance or quality of light as reflected from the surface of a mineral.

MASS NUMBER - the number of protons and neutrons in an atoms nucleus.

METALLIC BOND - chemical bond where electrons flow freely form one atom to another.

MINERAL – a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite atomic structure and chemical composition.

NUCLEUS - the dense core of an atom containing protons and neutrons .

ORE – a useful metallic mineral that can be mined for a profit.

PROTON - a positively charged sub atomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.

RADIOACTIVE DECAY – the spontaneous decay of certain radioactive elements emission of particles to or from an atomic nucleus.

ROCK An aggregate of minerals.

SILICATE – group of minerals that have the silicon oxygen tetrahedron as their basic structure.

SPECIFIC GRAVITY - the ratio of a substance’s weight to the weight of an equal amount of water. (density) Archimedes principle.

SILICON OXYGEN TETRAHEDRON – the basic building block of silicate minerals comprised of 4 oxygen atoms surrounding one silicon atom.

STREAK – a mineral in powdered form.

VALENCE ELECTRON – the outer most electron – valence electrons form chemical bonds