fracture
A mineral that breaks into jagged pieces exhibits fracture.
When a mineral breaks into jagged pieces, it is called a "fracture." This occurs when the mineral does not break along cleavage planes, resulting in rough and irregular surfaces. Fracture types include conchoidal (shell-like), fibrous, splintery, and uneven.
fracture
The breaking of a mineral along irregular surfaces is called a fracture. The splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces is called cleavage.
Cleavage
The characteristic that leads a mineral to break in jagged pieces is known as "conchoidal fracture." This type of fracture occurs when a mineral does not have a defined cleavage plane, causing it to break irregularly and create sharp, curved surfaces. Minerals with a conchoidal fracture, such as quartz and obsidian, often exhibit a glassy luster and can produce sharp edges. This property is essential in applications like tool-making, where sharp edges are advantageous.
Cleavage is the property that examines a mineral's ability to break into even pieces along specific planes or directions. Minerals with good cleavage will break cleanly and smoothly along these planes, while minerals with poor cleavage will break in irregular or jagged shapes. Cleavage is determined by the internal atomic structure of a mineral.
Limestone, and sulfur.
referred to as fracture
The property of minerals that break with jagged surfaces is called "fracture." This type of breakage occurs when a mineral does not break along cleavage planes but instead produces irregular, rough surfaces. Fracture can be categorized as conchoidal (smooth and curved) or uneven (jagged and rough).
Rock, mineral or fossil collecting.
fracture