Rockhound's Handy Guide To Rock Collecting


Hardness- how hard a mineral is in relation to another

Luster- how a mineral reflects light

Specific Gravity- the weight of a rock in relation to it's size

Color & Texture

Streak- the color it leaves on a white tile

Cleavage- How the rock breaks when broken

 

You can print these out on your printer in color or black and white on paper or cardstock. Then cut them out. They are really cool to use as bookmarks or fast guides when you're rock collecting. They are also handy to keep next to your computer as you study about rocks and minerals on the Web.

Try it!!

Mineral Man's Quick
Definition List


Geologist- Person who
studies earth science

Igneous-Rocks from hot
molton rock

Inorganic- Not alive

Magma- hot molton rock

Metamorphic- Rocks
formed when other rocks
are changed by: heat,
pressure & water

Palenontology- The study of
fossils

Petrology- The study of rocks

Plate Tectonics-The mass
movement of land caused
by internal earth forces

Sedimentary-rocks formed by
the weathering of existing rocks

Strata- Layers of rock

Go back to the Mining Tunnels!