Question

When a mineral breaks it will have either cleavage or ___.

don't guess for the points

crystal


fracture


hardness


density

Answer 1

When a mineral breaks it will have either cleavage or fracture.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are two characters which classify ways in which minerals break and they are cleavage and fracture. Minerals tend to break where the bonds between atoms are weaker. Cleavage describe breaking of minerals in planes that will lead to forming smooth surfaces.

For example, halite which is composed of atoms of sodium and chlorine break to form cubes.

More than one cleavage can be formed which is described by the angles. Fracture describes breaking that doesn't exhibit cleavage breakage and it varies in a mineral. Example is metal fracture which is jagged edged.

Answer 2

fracture is your answer

When a mineral breaks, there should be pieces that fall off, which are known as "fracturing of the mineral", and the pieces that fall off is called a fracture.

hope this helps