cleavage in mineralogy

In mineralogy, cleavage refers to a mineral's tendency to break along specific flat planes where its atomic structure is less tightly bonded. These planes are natural lines of weakness, resulting in smooth, flat surfaces when the mineral fractures. Cleavage patterns—such as one, two, three, or more directions—help identify minerals, as they reflect the internal arrangement of atoms. Understanding cleavage is important in mineral identification and processing, as it influences how minerals break and are used in various applications.