What determines whether a mineral will show cleavage or break irregular fractures?

Answer 1

It means that the chemical bonds of the mineral aren't too strong along the lines and that when you break the mineral it'll break along those lines.

please go to www.freewebs.com/mccniu (minerals aren't on it)

Answer 2

The crystal structure of a mineral determines whether it will show cleavage (break along planes of weakness) or break irregularly. Minerals with strong atomic bonds tend to fracture irregularly, while minerals with weaker bonds along specific planes will exhibit cleavage. Additionally, the arrangement of atoms in the mineral can also play a role in determining its cleavage characteristics.

Answer 3

The internal atomic structure of a mineral determines whether it wil show cleavage or break in irregular fractures. If part of a crystal breaks due to stress and the broken piece retains a smooth plane or crystal shape, the mineral can be said to have cleavage.

Answer 4

By breaking it and observing if the breakage is along planes of weakness that naturally occur in its crystals. The number of, and angles of, these cleavage planes in a specimen, are one identifying characteristic of a mineral.

Answer 5

Cleavage - Property of minerals that break along smooth, flat surfaces.

Answer 6

Cleavage is related to the minerals atomic structure because minerals are arranged in crystal lattices . It's the shape of these lattices that determine the mineral's cleavage.

Answer 7

minerals with cleavage break along smooth, flat surfaces in one or more directions.

Answer 8

Cleavage planes occur due to a weakness or propensity to fracture in a crystalline structure.

Answer 9

A milky white color

Answer 10

the smooth surface