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