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When a mineral breaks along its plane or planes, it is known as cleavage. Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along smooth, flat surfaces determined by its crystal structure. Different minerals exhibit different types of cleavage based on the arrangement of atoms within their crystal lattice.

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1y ago

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What is the tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weakness producing smooth parallel breaks known as?

Cleavage is the tendency of a minerals to break along flat surfaces. It means that the make up of the mineral is uneven, dense on one side and not dense in the other, causing the mineral to break along flat surfaces. The tendency of a mineral to break irregurlary is fracture.


Having a weakness along a specific plane will allow a mineral to?

cleave


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.


Does beryl have cleavage and why?

Yes, beryl does have cleavage. This is because beryl belongs to a mineral group known as silicates, which typically exhibit cleavage due to their crystal structure. Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along specific planes of weakness.


What mineral is nonsilicate and cleaves when it breaks and has a salty taste?

The mineral you are describing is halite, commonly known as rock salt. Halite is a nonsilicate mineral that exhibits perfect cubic cleavage when it breaks. It has a characteristic salty taste, which is due to its sodium chloride composition. This mineral is often found in evaporite deposits formed by the evaporation of seawater.


The tendency of the mineral to break along the curved surface is called?

This is known as conchoidal fracture.


What is it called when a mineral breaks down and releases energy?

When a mineral breaks down and releases energy, it is known as a chemical reaction or a chemical process. This process may involve the release of heat, light, or other forms of energy as bonds are broken and new substances are formed.


Mica has one direction of so it breaks into sheets?

Mica is a mineral composed of thin, flexible layers. These layers allow mica to easily break into thin sheets or flakes along one direction, a property known as perfect basal cleavage.


What is hardest mineral and what is the softest?

The hardest mineral is diamond, and the softest mineral is talc.


What mineral contains sodium and chlorine also breaks at 90 degree angles in three directions?

The mineral you are referring to is halite, commonly known as rock salt. It consists of sodium and chlorine atoms that are arranged in a cubic crystal structure, which causes it to break along 90-degree angles in three directions.


What are five special properties may help identify certain minerals?

Color: The color of a mineral can be a distinctive feature, but it is not always a reliable indicator due to variations within the same mineral species. Hardness: A mineral's resistance to scratching can help in identification, with the Mohs scale being a commonly used reference. Cleavage and fracture: The way a mineral breaks along planes of weakness, known as cleavage, or irregularly, known as fracture, can be unique to certain minerals. Luster: The way light reflects off the surface of a mineral, such as metallic, non-metallic, vitreous, or pearly, can be a distinguishing characteristic. Streak: The color of the powdered form of a mineral when scraped across a streak plate can be different from the mineral's exterior color and aid in identification.


He strong tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth parallel planes is known as?

The strong tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth parallel planes is known as cleavage. Cleavage occurs due to the internal atomic arrangement of the mineral, which allows it to break along specific planes of weakness.