Glossary of Terms

Flexible

Describes minerals that are capable of being bent without breaking. If a flexible mineral will return to its original position after stress is released, then it is flexible and elastic. If it does not return to its original position, but retains the position it was given after being bent, then it is flexible but inelastic. (If just the term flexible is used, it usually refers to flexible but inelastic.) Flexible minerals are sometimes capable of be molded, shaped or stretched.
Flexibility is a form of tenacity.