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Meteorite
Meteorite
A large chunk of rock moving through space. When meteorites collide with the Earth, they can do substantial damage. Meteor Crater in Arizona is the world’s best- known example of a meteorite striking the Earth.
Micas
Sheet-like minerals that break up into flakes. There are many micas, but the most common are brown, white, or colourless muscovite and black biotite. Micas are soft (2–3 on Mohs’ scale of hardness) but quite resistant to weathering. They are flat, plate-like crystals that normally form small, shiny specks in a rock. They are very common in igneous rocks, in many metamorphic rocks, especially schists and also in some sandstones.
Mineral
From a geologist’s point of view, a mineral is any naturally occurring inorganic substance of definite chemical composition (for example, calcite, calcium carbonate).
From a mining point of view,
a mineral is any useful resource extracted from the ground by mining (including metal ores, coal, oil, gas, rocks and so on).
(See also: Lustre; Mineral environment; Mineralisation; Reniform; Skarn; Streak; Transluscent; Transparent.)
(For groups of minerals see: Carbonate minerals; Crystal; Crystalline; Essential minerals; Evaporite; Ferromagnesium minerals; Gem, gemstones; Halide minerals; Micas; Native metal; Olivine; Ore mineral; Oxide minerals; Rock-forming mineral; Silica, silicate; Sulphides.)
(For individual minerals see: Augite; Bauxite; Beryl; Biotite;
 Mohs’ scale of hardness – This scale uses common minerals to produce a comparative scale to test all minerals. The softest is number 1 on the scale and the hardest is 10.
Coal; Copper; Diamond; Dolomite; Galena; Garnet; Gold; Gypsum; Haematite; Halite; Hornblende; Muscovite; Pyrite; Quartz; Silver; Sulphur; Talc.)
Mineral environment
The place where a mineral or
a group of associated minerals formed. Mineral environments include igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
Mineral matter
The particles of rock in a soil. The same as inorganic matter.
Mineralisation
The formation of minerals within a rock.
Moder
A dark layer of decomposing leaves and other materials that forms on the surface of slightly acid soils. It tends to be found
in cool, humid climates in upland areas. It is intermediate between mull and mor.
Mohs’ scale of hardness
A relative scale developed to organise minerals in order of hardness. Any mineral on the scale will scratch any mineral lower down the scale and be scratched by any mineral higher on the scale. The hardest is 10 (diamond) and the softest is 1 (talc).
Moisture, soil
The amount of water held between the particles of soil. When a
soil holds all the moisture it
can, it is said to be waterlogged
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1–Talc
2 – Gypsum
2. – Finger nail
 – Fluorite
3 – Calcite
 – Apatite
–Topaz
 – Orthoclase feldspar
 – Quartz
 – Corundum
10 – Diamond