Minerals 1
Minerals 2
Minerals 3
Minerals 4
Minerals 5
100

Lava or Magma solidify and become?

Igneous Rocks

100

How many characteristics are there that assist in identifying whether a substance is a mineral or non-mineral? 

Five

100

Is Talc a mineral or non-mineral?

Mineral

100

The ability to float in the water (or not) is referred to as ________. 

Buoyancy 

100

True or False: Minerals are always a liquid

False: Minerals must be solid

200

True or False: Color is the most reliable way to identify a mineral.

False: Color is not a reliable method because there are many minerals with the same or similar colors. 

200

Does this mineral have metallic or non-metallic luster?

Non-metallic

200

A substance that is neither alive nor dead is _________. 

Inorganic

200

Which characteristic of minerals means that it is not "man made"?

Naturally Occurring 

200

The color of the powder left when a mineral is scratched on a surface is called ______.

Streak

300

Would a knife be able to scratch Orthoclase?

No. Orthoclase has a hardness rating of 6 whereas the knife has a hardness rating of 5.5. Since the knife's hardness is less than that of Orthoclase, it would not be able to scratch it. 

300

True or False: Fossils are minerals

False: They are non-minerals because they are organic

300

What property of minerals does this picture show?

Streak. The mineral is being scratched against a surface, leaving colored powder behind.

300

The way a mineral’s surface reflects light is called ______.

Lustre

300

You are looking through a microscope at an unknown substance. It has sharp looking edges and flat sides. You would describe this substance as having what type of structure?

Crystal Structure 

400

A mineral has definite chemical composition which means it is made of ________.

Elements

400

True or False: Coal is a solid substance that is inorganic and naturally occurring. 

False. While coal is a solid and naturally occurring, it is organic. Coal is made up of decomposed plants, which makes it organic. 

400

The Mohs Scale uses 10 reference minerals to determine ________.

Hardness

400

A mixture of minerals is called a ____.

Rock

400

True or False: Commonly called Table Salt (NaCL) is what mineral?

Halite

500

Which property of minerals does this describe?

-Breaking or splitting of minerals in crystallized shape

-Mostly full, smooth edges 

-Has almost none to very few rough surfaces 

-Breaks in areas of weakness 

Cleavage. 

Cleavage refers to the way some minerals break along certain lines of weakness in their structure.

500

What is the most reliable way to identify a mineral?

Hardness

500

When a mineral breaks off in an irregular way, leaving jagged edges and rough surfaces. 

Fracture

500

True or False: Calcite can be scratched by a penny and Apatite.

True. Calcite has a hardness rating of 3. The Penny has a hardness rating of 3.5 and Apatite has a hardness rating of 5. Since the penny and Apatite have a higher hardness rating, they would be able to scratch Calcite. 

500


Which statement comparing mineral hardness is true?

A) calcite will only scratch gypsum

B) calcite will only scratch gypsum and talc

C) calcite will scratch any mineral softer than 3

D) calcite will scratch any mineral harder than 3

C) Calcite will scratch ANY mineral softer than 3

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