when discussing a group
of objects, the characteristics that all members of the group share. Attributes
for the group of minerals are color, streak, hardness, etc.
CLEAVAGE
the tendency in minerals
to break in such a way that a smooth, more even surface results
CONDUCTIVITY
the ability to serve as
a channel or pathway for the flow of heat, sound, or electricity
EROSION
the process by which weathered
material is carried away by wind or water
FRACTURE
the tendency in minerals
and rocks to break in uneven, irregular directions
GEOLOGIST
a person who studies the
origin, history, and structure of the earth
HARDNESS
the relative ability of
a mineral to scratch or be scratched by another mineral or object
IGNEOUS ROCK
a rock produced from molten
rock called magma or lava
LUSTER
the quality of a mineral
with respect to its ability to reflect light
MAGMA
molten material beneath
or within the earth's crust from which igneous rock is formed
METAMORPHIC ROCK
an igneous or sedimentary
rock that has been chemically or structurally changed by heat or pressure
MINERAL
a naturally occurring, inorganic
substance of definite chemical structure that has specific identifiable
characteristics
PETROLOGIST
a person who studies the
origin, composition, structure, and alteration of rocks
ROCK
a combination of mineral
matter of various compositions
SEDIMENT
mineral or organic matter
deposited by water, air, ice, etc
SEDIMENTARY ROCK
a rock formed from sediment
by pressure of water or other layers of sediment
STREAK
the line of powder obtained
by scratching or rubbing a mineral upon a hard, rough, white surface
STREAK PLATE
a rough piece of white porcelain
used by geologists to test the streak of minerals
TEXTURE
the characteristic property
of a mineral determined by how it feels; related to cleavage or fracture
TRANSPARENCY
the capacity of a mineral
to allow the passage of light through it
VALUES
the subsets of the attributes
of a group of objects. Values of color are red, green, blue, etc.
WEATHERING
breaking apart or chemically
changing earth substances by some force
