Minerals 1
Minerals 2
Minerals 3
Minerals 4
Minerals 5
100
"N.I.S.C.D." stands for what?
Nerds in Science Can't Dance
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 must be 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 ______.
Luster
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: Halite (NaCL) has a definite chemical composition.
True. Halite is made of the elements Sodium (Na) and Chloride (Cl).
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