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When a mineral breaks evenly, it exhibits a property known as "cleavage." This occurs along specific planes of weakness in the mineral's crystal structure, allowing it to split smoothly and predictably. Cleavage is a key characteristic used to identify minerals, as the angles and quality of the breaks can vary between different types. In contrast, minerals that break unevenly display a property called "fracture."
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What is it called when minerals break flat and evenly?
Cleavage is the term used to describe the tendency of minerals to break along flat and even surfaces due to their internal atomic structure. This results in the formation of smooth and reflective planes when a mineral breaks.
When a mineral breaks into jagged pieces what is it called?
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.
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.
What is the mineral with crystals that breaks into flat sheets?
Mica is crystalline and forms layers.
Why does mica break evenly?
Mica breaks evenly due to its layered crystal structure, which consists of sheets of silicate minerals held together by weak van der Waals forces. This arrangement allows the mineral to cleave easily along these layers, resulting in smooth, flat surfaces when broken. The uniformity of these layers contributes to the predictable cleavage pattern, giving mica its characteristic flaky appearance.
What type of fracture is it when a mineral splits evenly?
A mineral that splits evenly along flat surfaces is said to have a cleavage fracture. Cleavage occurs when a mineral breaks along weak atomic planes due to the internal atomic structure and bonding of the mineral.
How a mineral breaks apart when it does not split evenly?
The two way by which minerals break are called cleavage and fracture. Cleavage is when a mineral breaks along a plane whose atomic bonds are weaker than in the rest of the mineral. Fracture is when a mineral is forced to be broken in an unnatural direction.
The mineral mica breaks evenly along flat sheets mainly because of its?
The mineral mica breaks evenly along flat sheets mainly because of its perfect basal cleavage, which is a result of its crystal structure. This cleavage allows mica to easily separate into thin, flat sheets when broken or cut.
A mineral that does not split apart evenly has the property of fracture?
Correct. Minerals that do not split apart evenly, like quartz or obsidian, exhibit fracture instead of cleavage. Fracture can be described as uneven, conchoidal, splintery, or fibrous, depending on how the mineral breaks.
A mineral that breaks into jagged pieces exhibits this property?
A mineral that breaks into jagged pieces exhibits fracture.
When a mineral breaks along a weekly-bonded plane it is called what?
When a mineral breaks along a weakly-bonded plane, it is called cleavage. Cleavage is a property that describes how a mineral breaks along its crystal structure.
What property of minerals splits the mineral into pieces with uneven surfaces?
That property is called cleavage or fracture, depending on how the mineral breaks.
What is the tendency of a mineral to break evenly?
Cleavage
The way a mineral breaks is a clue to its identity fracture is?
The way a mineral breaks is a better clue to its identity than are its color and luster.
When a mineral breaks with rough edges what is that called?
When a mineral breaks with rough edges, it is called a "fracture." This is different from cleavage, which is when a mineral breaks along smooth, flat planes. Fracture can be described as conchoidal (shell-like), uneven, or fibrous.
What common mineral breaks with cleavage?
Feldspar.
What is the manner in which a mineral breaks along curved or irregular surfaces?
the manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular surfaces is called a FRACTURE.
