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That property is called cleavage or fracture, depending on how the mineral breaks.

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What property describes how a mineral breaks?

The property is referred to as cleavage or fracture, the tendency, or lack of tendency, of a mineral to break along planes of weakness. Some minerals have multiple planes of cleavage. Some have none, and are said to exhibit fracture.Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces. The way in which a mineral breaks depends on how its atoms are bonded, or joined together. In a mineral that displays cleavage, the bonds of the crystal structure are weaker in the directions in which the mineral breaks.fracture is the tendency of a mineral to break into irregular pieces. Some minerals such as quartz break into pieces with curved surfaces. Other minerals may break differently-perhaps into splinters or into rough or jagged pieces. In a mineral that displays fracture, the bonds that join the atoms are fairly equal in strength in all directions. The mineral does not break along flat surfaces because there are no particular directions ofweakness in its crystal structure.


Splitting into pieces with smooth regular surfaces that reflect light?

This process is called cleavage and is a property of minerals. Minerals with cleavage break along planes of weakness into smooth, flat surfaces that reflect light. Cleavage is a result of the arrangement of atoms within the mineral, and the number and orientation of cleavage planes can vary between different minerals.


A mineral that splits into smooth flat pieces demonstrates this property.?

cleavage


What is it called when minerals split into pieces that are smooth?

When minerals split into smooth, flat surfaces, it is called cleavage. Cleavage occurs along specific planes of weakness in the mineral's crystal structure, allowing it to break in a predictable manner. The resulting surfaces are typically smooth and reflect light well, which can be a key identifier for mineral identification.


A mineral that breaks into jagged pieces exhibits this property?

A mineral that breaks into jagged pieces exhibits fracture.


What examines a mineral's ability to break into even pieces?

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.


When a mineral splits into pieces that smooth and flat it is called?

Cleavage. Minerals with cleavage break along specific planes, resulting in smooth and flat surfaces. The number and angle of cleavage planes depend on the mineral's atomic structure.


How a mineral breaks apart when a tool such as a hammer is used to break it A mineral the exhibits this will break into smooth pieces?

The mineral will break along its crystal cleavage planes, resulting in smooth surfaces. This is because the atoms within the mineral are arranged in such a way that they break cleanly along specific planes of weakness. This property is known as cleavage, and minerals that exhibit this characteristic include mica and calcite.


What is a quartz sample breaks into many irregular pieces is an example of?

When a quartz sample breaks into many irregular pieces, it is an example of fracture. Fracture refers to the way a mineral breaks when it does not cleave along specific planes of weakness, resulting in jagged, uneven surfaces. This characteristic is important in identifying minerals and understanding their physical properties. In contrast, minerals that break along smooth surfaces exhibit cleavage.


What is the difference between mineral cleavage and mineral fracture.?

Cleavage is the breaking of a mineral along flat surfaces. Fracture, on the hand is just the chipping or "fracture" of a mineral.Cleavage is the tendency to break along flat surfaces, and fracture is the tendency of a mineral to break into irregular pieces.


Minerals like quartz that break into pieces with jagged edges have?

a property called conchoidal fracture, which is characterized by smooth, curved breakage surfaces similar to those seen on broken glass. This type of fracture is common in minerals like quartz, obsidian, and flint.


What is the differences between fracture and cleavage?

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces and fracture is the tendency of a mineral to break into irregular pieces.