1. Rocks and Minerals Vocabulary Part 1

2. Core Definition: the inner part of the earth, full of hot liquid Inner core: solid nickel and iron, solid because it is under so much pressure; 800 miles thick; 13,000°F Outer core: liquid nickel and iron; 1,400 miles thick; 11,000°F Inner Core Outer Core

3. Crust Definition: the outside of the earth – the part we live on – all of the rocks and minerals that we know are found here 5 (under the oceans) - 25 (under the continents) miles thick 1,600°F at the deepest parts

4. Mantle Definition: the layer of earth below the crust 1,000-1,800 miles thick 8,000°F at the deepest parts

5. Rock Definition: any piece of solid matter in the Earth’s crust Made up of minerals p. 239

6. Mineral Definition: matter that is not plant or animal Rocks are made of these p. 239 Pink Chalcedony Sulfur (yellow) Gypsum

7. Geologist Definition: a scientist who studies rocks and minerals Includes: volcanoes, earthquakes, specific rocks, rock formations, identifying new rocks, how the earth was formed

8. Appearance Definition: the way something looks to you Includes: color, luster, size, crystal structure p. 239 Calcite (purple) on Fluorite (white/yellow) Mesolite

9. Luster Definition: the way a rock’s surface reflects light Choices: metallic, nonmetallic, dull, pearly, glassy, greasy, silky p. 240 Dull Greasy Glassy (the rock, not the lichen)

10. Streak Definition: the color of a mineral in its powdered form BE CAREFUL: a mineral’s streak is NOT always the same as its appearance p. 240-241 Bauxite

11. Metallic Definition: minerals with a shiny appearance Looks like metal p. 240 Azurite Gold

12. Nonmetallic Definition: minerals that allow light to pass through them, minerals with a dull appearance Includes: dull, pearly, glassy, greasy, silky p. 240 Pearly GlassySilky

13. Hardness Definition: the ability to resist being scratched p. 240 We use the Mohs scale(1-10), created by Fredrich Mohs (German geologist) Examples: 1 – fingernail scratches it easily 6 – scratches glass easily 10 – scratches every other mineral (hardest mineral – diamond)

14. Layers of the Earth Crust Mantle Core