| Ionic Bonding | | Relative resistance of a mineral to scratching. (Hardness) |
| Hydrothermal Mineral Deposit | | An ion with a negative electrical charge. (Anion) |
| Polymorphs | | A mineral that contains the silicate anion. (Silicate) |
| Anion | | An atom that has excess positive or negative charges caused by electron transfer. (Ion) |
| Crystal Form | | The smallest unit that retains the distinctive properties of a compound. (Molecule) |
| Isotope | | A compound that occurs in more than one crystal structure. (Polymorphs) |
| Atom | | The nember of protons in the nucleus of an atom. (Atomic Number) |
| Ore | | The smallest individual particle that retains the distinctive properties of a given chemical element. (Atom) |
| Energy-Level Shells | | A positive ion. (Cation) |
| Molecule | | A form of covalent bonding between atoms in which electron sharing occurs with inner energy-level shells rather than the outermost shells. (Metallic Bonding) |
| Cation | | The force between two atoms that have filled their energy-level shells by sharing one or more electrons. (Covalent Bonding) |
| Sedimentary Mineral Deposit | | The proportions of the various chemical elements in a mineral. (Composition) |
| Crystalline | | Any local concentration of minerals formed through processes of sedimentation. (Sedimentary Mineral Deposit) |
| Cleavage | | Any naturally formed, crystalline solid with a definite chemical compostition and a characteristic crystal structure. (Mineral) |
| Ion | | A number stating the ratio of the weight of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of pure water. A dimensionless number numerically equal to the density. (Specific Gravity) |
| Hardness | | Any local concentration of minerals formed by magmatic processes in an igneous rock. (Magmatic Mineral Deposits) |
| Luster | | Any local concentration of mineral deposits formed by deposition from a hydrothermal solution. (Hydrothermal Mineral Deposit) |
| Crystal Structure | | A deposit of heavy minerals concentrated mechanically. (Placer) |
| Mass Number | | The tendency of a mineral to break in preferred directions along bright, reflective plane surfaces. (Cleavage) |
| Mineraloid | | Atoms of an element having the same atomic number but differing mass numbers. (Isotope) |
| van der Waals Bonding | | A weak electrostatic attraction that arises because certain ions and atoms are distorted from a shperical shape. (van der Waals Bonding) |
| Magmatic Mineral Deposits | | An aggregate of minerals from which one or more minerals can be extracted profitably. (Ore) |
| Compostion | | Any local concentration of minerals formed as a result of weathering. (Residual Mineral Deposit) |
| Mineral | | Any solid that has a crystal structure. (Crystalline) |
| Specific Gravity | | The specific energy level of electrons as they orbit the nucleus of an atom. (Energy-Level Shells) |
| Covalent Bonding | | The electrostatic forces that hold atoms together to form compounds by sharing and transfer of electrons. (Bonding) |
| Placer | | The sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. (Mass Number) |
| Bonding | | A naturally occurring mineral-like solid that lacks either a crystal structure or a definite composition, or both. (Mineraloid) |
| Silicate | | The quality and intensity of light reflected from a mineral. (Luster) |
| Metallic Bonding | | The geometric pattern that atoms assume in a solid. (Crystal Structure) |
| Atomic Number | | The geometric arrangement of crystal faces. (Crystal Form) |
| Residual Mineral Deposit | | The electrostatic attraction between nagtively and positively charged ions. (Ionic Bonding) |
