Mineral Properties/ assets
Mineral Characteristics
True or False
Vocab
Final Jeopardy
100
Is the color of the mineral it it's original form always the same as the color of it's powdered form when you test it's streak?
No, the streak can be a different color on the tile from it's original color.
Example: Hemtatite Color: black Streak: rust-red
100
A mineral is not a _______
Rock
100
A mineral is made of rocks.
What is FALSE.
Minerals are made naturally on Earth. Rocks are made up of minerals.
100
What is an element?
An element is a substance that contains only one type of atom.
200
What property is the least reliable for mineral identification?
What is Color.
200
Ice is a mineral but water is not. Why is water not a mineral?
Water is liquid. Needs to be a solid (one of the 5 characteristics of a mineral).
200
Flourite is used in toothpaste
What is TRUE.
Fluoride is used to prevent cavities in toothpaste.
200
Explain the term: crystal.
A crystal is a solid in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating, three-dimensional pattern.
300
Name a different description of a non-metallic luster.
glassy.
300
Even though graphite (pencil lead) and diamond come from the same atom, Carbon, their physical characteristics are completely different. Why is this the case?
Their atoms are arranged in different crystal structures.
300
Talc is a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale, making it the softest mineral.
What is FALSE.
Talc is a 1 on the hardness scale, making it one of the softest.
300
Explain what hardness is in relation to a mineral.
Hardness is a mineral’s ability to resist being scratched.
400
Pyrite is often called "Fool's Gold" because it shines brightly just like a polished gold coin or a chrome car bumper. How do geologists describe this type of shine?
What is metallic
400
Coal is "organic". Is it a mineral?
No, because it is organic. It is made from the remains of vegetation.
400
The streak of a mineral is always the exact same color as the outside surface of the mineral.
What is FALSE.
Minerals can have a different streak color than the color you see on the outside. Example: Flourite appears blue/green but has a white streak.
400
What is the difference between fracture and cleavage?
When a mineral fractures it breaks off into irregular pieces. When a mineral has cleavage it breaks along flat surfaces.
500
Using this image/Moh's Scale of Hardness:
which minerals can scratch Topaz?
What is Corundum and Diamond
500
What types of organisms can produce minerals?
Ones that grow bones or shells
500
On the Mohs hardness scale, a mineral with a higher number can scratch a mineral with a lower number.
What is TRUE.
The mineral that is harder can scratch the softer mineral.
500
What is a mineral?
A mineral is a substance that:
-Forms in Nature
-Is a solid
-Has a definite chemical Makeup
-Has a crystal structure
500
Which mineral am I?
-Color: black
-Streak: black
-Mohs Scale: 6
-Breakage: Fracture
-Magnetic
What is Magnetite