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- Fracture is closely related to cleavage but is a general term that describes the way a mineral breaks or cracks in directions unrelated to weak atomic bonding. Minerals that are bonded with equal strength in all directions, such as quartz, have no cleavage, but instead fracture to form irregular surfaces.
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Dec 16, 2022 · University of North Dakota. Cleavage, fracture, and parting are three related terms that describe how a mineral crystal may break. The orientation and manner of breaking provide important clues about crystal structure and can be keys to mineral identification.
Mineral Fracture. Fracture refers to the way a mineral breaks when it lacks well-defined planes of weakness or cleavage. Instead of breaking along specific crystallographic planes, fractures occur randomly, resulting in irregular and rough surfaces. Fracture can be classified into various types based on the appearance of the broken surface. 1.
Background - Cleavage and fracture are both patterns of breakage. Minerals with cleavage break along planar (flat) surfaces of weaker chemical bonds. When minerals break to expose large, flat surfaces, cleavage is said to be good to excellent. Conchoidal fracture differs from cleavage because the broken surface is not a smooth, flat plane.
Fracture is a break in a mineral that is not along a cleavage plane. Fracture is not always the same in the same mineral because fracture is not determined by the structure of the mineral. Minerals may have characteristic fractures (Figure below). Metals usually fracture into jagged edges. If a mineral splinters like wood, it may be fibrous.
Mineral fracture surfaces may be rough, uneven, or show a conchoidal fracture. Uneven fracture patterns are described as irregular, splintery, fibrous. A conchoidal fracture has a smooth, curved surface like a shallow bowl or conch shell, often with curved ridges.
Any kind of break that is not cleavage is called fracture, and there are several different kinds. Safety Warning Mineral specimens can be just as sharp as broken glass.
-Fracture: absence of a preferred orientation of weakness ->conchoidal fracture olivine, quartz, garnet - very diagnostic . Density: experience or lab measurements Hardness: the resistance of a mineral to form microfractures (i.e. to be abraded). Relates to mineral type oxides, silicates= hard, most hydrous minerals soft, very
