Which term refers to a solid mass of individual, randomly oriented crystals held together by a natural binding agent?

Which term refers to a solid mass of individual, randomly oriented crystals held together by a natural binding agent?

• A. Alluvial deposit
• B. Angle of incidence
• C. Aggregate
• D. Appraisal

Answer: (C)

Aggregate describes a solid mass formed by many individual crystals or grains that are bound together by a natural cementing material. This matches the description of a cohesive rock or ore where the crystals are oriented randomly rather than forming a single crystal, and they stay joined by bonding agents such as cement or mineral glue. An alluvial deposit is loose sediment carried and deposited by water, not a cemented mass. The angle of incidence is a physics term about how a wave or particle strikes a surface, unrelated to the mineral composition or binding of a solid. Appraisal is about estimating value, not describing physical structure. So the term that fits best is aggregate.

Aggregate describes a solid mass formed by many individual crystals or grains that are bound together by a natural cementing material. This matches the description of a cohesive rock or ore where the crystals are oriented randomly rather than forming a single crystal, and they stay joined by bonding agents such as cement or mineral glue. An alluvial deposit is loose sediment carried and deposited by water, not a cemented mass. The angle of incidence is a physics term about how a wave or particle strikes a surface, unrelated to the mineral composition or binding of a solid. Appraisal is about estimating value, not describing physical structure. So the term that fits best is aggregate.