What term describes a mineral's tendency to break along smooth, flat planes?

What term describes a mineral's tendency to break along smooth, flat planes?

• A. Luster
• B. Cleavage
• C. Hardness
• D. Fracture

Answer: (B)

This describes a mineral’s tendency to break along smooth, flat planes due to planes of weaker bonds in its crystal structure. When the crystal lattice has directions with weaker bonding, the mineral splits cleanly along those planes, producing flat surfaces. This behavior is called cleavage. It differs from luster, which is about how light reflects from a surface, and from hardness, which measures how easily a mineral can be scratched. It also differs from fracture, which is an irregular, uneven break.

This describes a mineral’s tendency to break along smooth, flat planes due to planes of weaker bonds in its crystal structure. When the crystal lattice has directions with weaker bonding, the mineral splits cleanly along those planes, producing flat surfaces. This behavior is called cleavage. It differs from luster, which is about how light reflects from a surface, and from hardness, which measures how easily a mineral can be scratched. It also differs from fracture, which is an irregular, uneven break.