Cleavage and Fracture
- The way a mineral breaks apart is another clue to its identity.
- If a mineral breaks along planes (smooth, flat surfaces), it is said to have cleavage.
- Mica is an example of a mineral with a cleavage. Separating the layers of mica is like separating the pages in a book.
- If a mineral breaks along planes (smooth, flat surfaces), it is said to have cleavage.
- Mica is an example of a mineral with a cleavage. Separating the layers of mica is like separating the pages in a book.
Fracture
- Not all minerals have cleavage. Minerals that break with rough or jagged edges have fractures.
- Quartz is an example of a mineral with fracture.
- In order to examine cleavage and fracture, you need to look at a freshly broken surface of a mineral.
- Quartz is an example of a mineral with fracture.
- In order to examine cleavage and fracture, you need to look at a freshly broken surface of a mineral.
Mr.Hong's slide show