Lohkeavuus

Lohkeavuus refers to the tendency of a mineral or rock to break along definite planes of weakness. This characteristic is a result of the mineral's internal atomic structure. When the chemical bonds between atoms are weaker in certain directions than in others, the material will fracture preferentially along these weaker planes. This contrasts with cleavage, which is a more general term for the tendency to split along planes, regardless of their origin.

Minerals exhibiting distinct lohkeavuus often have a crystalline structure with layers of atoms that are held together by relatively weak forces. When subjected to stress, these layers can slide past each other or break apart along these weaker bonds. Examples of minerals with prominent lohkeavuus include micas, which split into thin sheets, and some feldspars, which break along two or three distinct directions. The angle between these planes can be a diagnostic property used in mineral identification.

The degree of lohkeavuus can vary. Some minerals have perfect lohkeavuus, breaking cleanly along smooth, flat surfaces. Others have imperfect or poor lohkeavuus, producing rougher or less defined breaks. Understanding lohkeavuus is important in geology for interpreting rock formations and in various industries, such as mining and materials science, where the fracture properties of minerals and rocks are critical for processing and application.