how does mineral cleavage differ from mineral fracture? how does mineral cleavage differ from mineral fracture? cleavage occurs when all of the chemical bonds within the mineral are equally strong in all directions, whereas fracturing occurs when the chemical bonds are weaker in one or two directions than the remaining direction(s). mineral cleavage is the mineral's tendency to break into uneven surfaces, whereas mineral fracture is the mineral's tendency to break along flat, even planes. mineral cleavage is the mineral's tendency to break along flat, even planes, whereas mineral fracture is the mineral's tendency to break into uneven surfaces. there are several types of cleavage, but only one type of fracture. there are several types of fracture, but only one type of cleavage.