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It means that the chemical bonds of the mineral aren't too strong along the lines and that when you break the mineral it'll break along those lines.

please go to www.freewebs.com/mccniu (minerals aren't on it)

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15y ago
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2mo ago

The crystal structure of a mineral determines whether it will show cleavage (break along planes of weakness) or break irregularly. Minerals with strong atomic bonds tend to fracture irregularly, while minerals with weaker bonds along specific planes will exhibit cleavage. Additionally, the arrangement of atoms in the mineral can also play a role in determining its cleavage characteristics.

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11y ago

The internal atomic structure of a mineral determines whether it wil show cleavage or break in irregular fractures. If part of a crystal breaks due to stress and the broken piece retains a smooth plane or crystal shape, the mineral can be said to have cleavage.

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11y ago

By breaking it and observing if the breakage is along planes of weakness that naturally occur in its crystals. The number of, and angles of, these cleavage planes in a specimen, are one identifying characteristic of a mineral.

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16y ago

Cleavage - Property of minerals that break along smooth, flat surfaces.

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9y ago

Cleavage is related to the minerals atomic structure because minerals are arranged in crystal lattices . It's the shape of these lattices that determine the mineral's cleavage.

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14y ago

minerals with cleavage break along smooth, flat surfaces in one or more directions.

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14y ago

Cleavage planes occur due to a weakness or propensity to fracture in a crystalline structure.

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4y ago

A milky white color

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4y ago

the smooth surface

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Q: What determines whether a mineral will show cleavage or break irregular fractures?
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Is turquoise cleavage or fracture?

Turquoise typically exhibits conchoidal fracture rather than cleavage. This means that when turquoise breaks, it does not separate along flat, smooth planes like cleavage, but instead fractures in a curved, irregular manner.


Breaking of a mineral along irregular surfaces called?

The breaking of a mineral along irregular surfaces is called a fracture. The splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces is called cleavage.


What is cleavage of granite?

Cleavage in granite refers to the way the rock breaks along planes of weakness, resulting in smooth, flat surfaces. Granites typically have poor cleavage due to their interlocking mineral grains, resulting in irregular fracture patterns instead of distinct cleavage planes. This property makes granite a durable and strong material for construction and sculpture.


What examines a mineral's ability to break into even pieces?

Cleavage is the property that examines a mineral's ability to break into even pieces along specific planes or directions. Minerals with good cleavage will break cleanly and smoothly along these planes, while minerals with poor cleavage will break in irregular or jagged shapes. Cleavage is determined by the internal atomic structure of a mineral.


Four different types of mineral fractures?

Cleavage: When minerals break along smooth, flat planes. Conchoidal: Curved breakage pattern resembling the inside of a clamshell. Fibrous: Minerals break into fibrous or splintery shapes. Irregular: Breakage with no specific pattern or direction.

Related questions

What determines whether mineral will show cleavage or break in irregular fractures?

The internal atomic structure.


What determines whether a mineral will show cleavage or break in irregular fractures?

The internal atomic structure.


What detemines whether a mineral will show cleavage or break in irregular fractures?

Cleavage and fracture are determined by atomic structure and the relative weakness or strengths of the atomic bonds.


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.


Is turquoise cleavage or fracture?

Turquoise typically exhibits conchoidal fracture rather than cleavage. This means that when turquoise breaks, it does not separate along flat, smooth planes like cleavage, but instead fractures in a curved, irregular manner.


What determines whether a mineral displays fracture or cleavage?

the streak of the mineral


Breaking of a mineral along irregular surfaces called?

The breaking of a mineral along irregular surfaces is called a fracture. The splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces is called 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 are fracture and cleavage and cleavage different?

Cleavage- in geolohy, the tendency of a mineral to splitalong specific planes of weakness to format smooth flatSurface.Fracture- the manner in which a mineral breaks alongeither curved or irregular


What is cleavage of granite?

Cleavage in granite refers to the way the rock breaks along planes of weakness, resulting in smooth, flat surfaces. Granites typically have poor cleavage due to their interlocking mineral grains, resulting in irregular fracture patterns instead of distinct cleavage planes. This property makes granite a durable and strong material for construction and sculpture.


Is Zinc a cleavage or an fracture?

Zinc is a metal that exhibits a fracture rather than cleavage. Fracture refers to the way a mineral breaks when it is not along cleavage planes, while cleavage refers to the tendency of a mineral to break along flat planes.