Identifying rocks and minerals
minerals
Rocks
properties of rocks and minerals
Rocks and minerals
100
A student found a rock in his backyard and wants to figure out whether it is a rock or a mineral. Which is NOT a question that we can ask to identify if the sample is a rock or mineral?
A) Is it all one color?
B)Could it have a fossil in it?
C) Is it smooth or rough?
D) How big is it?
What is D) how big is it?
100
Michael found a material while digging in his backyard. The material has a definite shape and is purple in color. What did Michael most likely find?
A) a rock
B) a stone
C) a mineral
D) a fossil
What is C) a mineral
100
Pick the correct difference between a rock and a mineral.
A) A rock can be made up of minerals, but minerals cannot be made up of a rock.
B) A mineral can be made up of rocks, but rocks cannot be made up of minerals.
C) A rock always has the same shape, while minerals may be different in shape.
D) A mineral always has the same shape, while a rock may be different in shape.
What is A) A rock can be made up of minerals, but minerals cannot be made up of a rock.
100
Two minerals are the same hardness, color, and luster. What other test can students do to help identify the minerals?
A) They can drop the minerals to see how quickly they break.
B) They can rub the minerals together to see if one will scratch the other.
C) They can shine light on the minerals to see how much light they reflect.
D) They can rub the minerals on something hard to see what color streak they leave.
What is D)They can rub the minerals on something hard to see what color streak they leave.
100
Tino finds this object on the ground. 
He wants to classify it correctly. Which of the following is true about the object?
A) It is likely a mineral because it has a rough texture.
B) It is likely a mineral because it has a pattern.
C) It is likely a rock because it is light in color.
D) It is likely a rock because it has fossils.
What is D) It is likely a rock because it has fossils.
200
You can compare minerals by looking at their?
- Color
- Hardness
- Texture
- All of the above
What is D) all the above.
200
Which of the following best explains a hardness scale?
A) a scale that tests the hardness of a mineral by scratching other materials
B) a scale that tests the hardness of a rock by scratching other materials
C) a scale that tests the hardness of a mineral by being rubbed on other materials
D) a scale that tests the hardness of a rock by being rubbed on other materials
What is A) a scale that tests the hardness of a mineral by scratching other materials
200
How are rocks and minerals identified?
A) Rocks are identified by their color, and minerals are identified by their size.
B) Rocks are identified by how they were formed, and minerals are identified by the structure of their crystals.
C) Rocks are identified by where they are found, and minerals are identified by how they were formed.
D) Rocks are identified by their shape, and minerals are identified by their color.
What is B) Rocks are identified by how they were formed, and minerals are identified by the structure of their crystals.
200
Multiple Choice from Item Central
Which of these would be the most helpful when identifying a mineral?
A) mass
B) color
C) shape
D) temperature
What is B) color
200
Diamond has a hardness of 10, a waxy luster, is pale blue in color, and streaks white. Using this information, why are diamonds widely used in the construction industry?
A) A diamond's luster makes it a good material for use in windows.
B) A diamond's hardness makes it a good tool to cut other materials.
C) A diamond's color can be used in paint to create a pale blue color.
D) A diamond's white streak can be used to make marks on buildings.
What is B) A diamond's hardness makes it a good tool to cut other materials.
300
Stan saw tiny crystals inside a rock. He should know that the rock has…
A. A fossil in it
B. Minerals inside
C. Soil inside
D. Air inside
What is B) minerals inside
300
Pick the four characteristics of minerals that can be used to identify them.
A) shape
B) color
C) texture
D) size
E) hardness
F) weight
What is A) shape, B) color, c) texture, e) hardness
300
The picture shows a rock.
Pick three sentences that are true of the rock in the picture.
A) The rock is very smooth.
B) The rock has a dull luster.
C) The rock has many colors.
D) The rock has a round shape.
E) The rock has a rough texture.
What is B) The rock has dull luster, c) the rock has many colors E) the rock has a rough texture
300
Which of the following is NOT a test to help classify a mineral?
A) luster test
B) hardness test
C) streak test
D) weight test
What is D) weight test
300
A diamond is measured as a 10 on the Mohs hardness scale for minerals. What will happen when a diamond is scraped against a mineral with a lower hardness rating?
A) the diamond will chip
B) the diamond will increase in hardness
C) the diamond will scratch the other mineral
D) the diamond will lose hardness to the other mineral
What is C) the diamond will scratch the other mineral
400
The students in Mr. Rowe’s third grade class are observing and classifying minerals. One group has decided they want to group their minerals by luster. Which question will best help the students classify the minerals?
A) Is the mineral metallic?
B) Can the mineral be scratched?
C) What does the mineral feel like?
D) What color is each mineral?
What is A) Is the mineral metallic?
400
A scientist wants to find out what type of mineral she has. What is the best way for her to find out?
A) She could look at the color, hardness, and shape.
B) She could look at the weight, hardness, and color.
C) She could look at the color, weight, and size.
D) She could look at the shape, size, and hardness.
What is A) She could look at the color, hardness, and shape
400
Which of the following is NOT used to identify a rock?
A) color
B) shape
C) weight
D) streak
What is C) weight
400
Which of these would be the least useful when identifying a mineral?
A) luster
B) hardness
C) shape
D) color
What is C) shape
400
Beth was skipping stones on the water. The stones had many different colors and shapes. Which best describes the stones Beth was skipping?
A) The stones were minerals.
B) The stones were gems.
C) The stones were rocks.
D) The stones were diamonds.
What is C) The stones were rocks.
500
Carson is looking at the difference between pyrite and quartz. He notices that pyrite reflects light and quartz looks dull and glassy. Which property is Carson testing?
A. mass test
B. luster test
C. color test
D. hardness test
What is B) luster test
500
A scientist has a sample that is made of a single material. The sample is most likely
A) an element.
B) a mineral.
C) a rock.
D) a crystal.
What is B) a mineral
500
A student is performing an investigation by scratching one rock on another rock, as shown in the picture.
Which question is the student most likely trying to answer?
A) What color are the rocks?
B) Which rock has a shinier luster?
C) What is the texture of the rocks?
D) Which rock is the hardest?
What is D) Which is the hardest rock
500
Which question would help a scientist to sort rocks into groups based on their hardness?
A) How heavy is the rock?
B) Does the rock have a dark color?
C) Will the rock scratch another material?
D) Is the surface of the rock bumpy or smooth?
What is C) Will the rock scratch another material?
500
A solid material made up of one or more minerals is?
A) cleavage
B) hardness
C) rock
D) mineral
What is D) mineral