Volume Minerali e rocce Vulcani Terremoti
La crosta terrestre: minerali e rocce
Earth Science in English
Glossary
- Cleavage
The tendency of a crystal to break along flat planar surfaces determined by the crystal structure.- Crystal
A form of matter in which the atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged regularly in all directions to form a regular, repeating structure.- Crystal habit
The general shape of a crystal for example cubic, prismatic or fibrous.- Diagenesis
The physical and chemical changes undergone by a sediment during lithification and compaction, excluding erosion and metamorphism.- Fracture (Minerals)
The irregular breaking of a crystal along a surface other than cleavage planes.- Hardness
A measurament of the ease with which the surface of a mineral can be scratched.- Magma
Molten rock material that forms igneous rocks upon cooling. Magma that reaches the surface is lava.- Mineral
A naturally occurring, generally inorganic, solid crystalline substance, with a specific chemical composition.- Polymorphs
One or more alternative possible structures for a single chemical compound.- Rock
Naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals.- Rock cycle
A sequence of events involving the formation, alteration, destruction, and reformation of rocks as a result of such processes as magmatism, erosion, transportation, deposition, lithification and metamorphism.- Schistosity
The parallel arrangement of layers or prismatic minerals, like micas and amphiboles, resulting from metamorphism.- Texture
The size and the shape ot rock’s mineral crystals and the way they are put together.
Cleavage.
Crystal.
Crystal habit.
Diagenesis.
Fracture (Minerals).
Hardness.
Magma.
Mineral.
Polymorphs.
Rock.
Rock cycle.
Schistosity.
Texture.
