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Rocks are exposed to the elements and undergo weathering. This can cause the minerals that they are composed of and that are exposed at the surface to become discoloured which can make them hard to identify. A geologist will often use a geological hammer to crack the rock sample to see the fresh, unweathered minerals.

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What is the ability of a mineral to break along preferred directions called?

The ability of a mineral to break along preferred directions is called cleavage. Cleavage is a result of the arrangement of atoms within the mineral structure, which causes it to break in certain directions more easily than others.


What can cleavage and fracture do to a mineral?

Cleavage and fracture describe how a mineral breaks. Cleavage shows the tendency of a mineral to break along specific planes due to its crystal structure, while fracture refers to irregular breakage patterns. Cleavage can create smooth surfaces, aiding in mineral identification and classification, while fractures can vary in appearance, from conchoidal (shell-like) to uneven.


Will mineral oil break down rubber?

Mineral oil can potentially break down rubber over time by softening it and causing it to swell or degrade. It's important to check the compatibility of the specific rubber material with mineral oil before using them together to avoid any damage.


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 time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down to form daughter isotopes called?

halflife

Related Questions

What scientist use to determine a minerals resistance to being scratched?

Moh's hardness scale was used to determine a mineral's resistance to being scratched. The tendency of a mineral to break along smooth flat surfaces is cleavage.


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

jhgj


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.


The flat break of a mineral is called?

Cleavage.


What is the tendency of a mineral to break evenly?

Cleavage


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.


What the differences between cleavage and fracture?

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.


How many years will it take Loihi to break the surface?

UHH Geologist predict in several tens of thousands of years.


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.


Scientists use this to determine a minerals resistance to being scratched?

A mineral's resistance to being scratched is known as it's hardness. You can determine hardness by scratching it with another material whose hardness is already known. If it can be scratched, then the hardness is lower. If the unknown leaves a scratch on the known material, then its hardness is higher.


What is the source of mineral fragments in soil?

Mineral fragments in soil come from the weathering and breakdown of parent rock material over time. Physical, chemical, and biological processes break down larger rock particles into smaller mineral fragments, which become part of the soil composition. These mineral fragments provide essential nutrients for plants and help determine soil properties.


What is the ability of a mineral to break along preferred directions called?

The ability of a mineral to break along preferred directions is called cleavage. Cleavage is a result of the arrangement of atoms within the mineral structure, which causes it to break in certain directions more easily than others.