Mineral: A natural, solid, nonliving substance with a crystal structure and set chemical makeup
Luster: How the surface of a mineral reflects light
Streak: The color of a mineral's powder when rubbed on a plate
Hardness: How easily a mineral can be scratched
Mohs scale: A scale of mineral hardness from 1 to 10
Cleavage: When a mineral breaks along flat surfaces
Fracture: When a mineral breaks unevenly
Crystal form: The shape of a mineral's crystals
Specific gravity: How heavy a mineral is compared to water
Magnetism: Some minerals, like magnetite, are attracted to a magnet
Ore: A rock that has enough metal to be worth mining
Gemstone: A mineral cut and polished for jewelry
Mohs hardness 1: Talc
Mohs hardness 2: Gypsum
Mohs hardness 3: Calcite
Mohs hardness 4: Fluorite
Mohs hardness 5: Apatite
Mohs hardness 6: Orthoclase feldspar
Mohs hardness 7: Quartz
Mohs hardness 8: Topaz
Mohs hardness 9: Corundum
Mohs hardness 10: Diamond
Memory trick for the Mohs scale: Talc, gypsum, calcite, fluorite, apatite, orthoclase, quartz, topaz, corundum, diamond
Softest mineral: Talc
Hardest natural mineral: Diamond
Talc: Very soft mineral used to make baby powder
Gypsum: Soft mineral used for plaster and drywall
Calcite: Mineral that fizzes in vinegar; makes up limestone
Quartz: Common hard mineral in sand and granite
Feldspar: The most common mineral group in Earth's crust
Mica: Mineral that splits into thin shiny sheets
Halite: The mineral name for rock salt
Pyrite: Brassy mineral called fool's gold
Galena: The main ore of lead
Hematite: An iron ore with a reddish-brown streak
Magnetite: A magnetic iron ore
Bauxite: The main ore of aluminum
Graphite: Soft carbon mineral used in pencils
Diamond: Carbon mineral, the hardest natural substance
Corundum: Mineral that makes rubies and sapphires
Ruby: A red gem form of corundum
Sapphire: Usually blue gem form of corundum
Emerald: A green gem form of beryl
Amethyst: Purple quartz
Topaz: A hard gem mineral that comes in many colors
Garnet: A group of minerals, often deep red
Opal: A gem with flashing colors, made of silica and water
Turquoise: A blue-green mineral used in jewelry
Jade: A green stone used for carvings
Malachite: A bright green copper mineral
Fluorite: A mineral that can glow under UV light and comes in many colors
Sulfur: A yellow mineral element
Gold: A soft, heavy, valuable native metal
Native element: A mineral made of just one element, like gold or copper
Geode: A rock with a hollow filled with crystals
Stalactite: A mineral formation that hangs from a cave ceiling
Stalagmite: A mineral formation that rises from a cave floor
Mineral that your teeth and bones are like: Apatite
Birthstone for April: Diamond
Birthstone for January: Garnet
Birthstone for September: Sapphire

Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/earth-minerals