Minerals!

What Is A Mineral?

100

This is a characteristic of a mineral that means it doesn’t come from living things.

Inorganic

200

A mineral is always this, meaning it has a definite shape and volume.

Solid

300

This mineral characteristic means it is not man made.

Naturally occurring

400

This characteristic means a mineral has structures that have repeating patterns of molecules creating flat faces and edges.

Crystalline structure

500

Is coal a mineral? Explain your answer.

No, coal is a fossil fuel which means it came from something that was once living making it ORGANIC not inorganic. 

Properties

100

This is what you see on the outside of the mineral. This test is not as reliable as streak.

Color

200

This test describes the color of a mineral's powdered form.

Streak

300

This term describes how a mineral's surface reflects light.

Luster

400

This characteristic describes how a mineral breaks off easily along smooth, flat surfaces.

Cleavage

500

The tendency of a mineral to break unevenly along a curved or irregular surface.

Fracture

Moh's Hardness Scale

100

What is the softest mineral and what is its rating?

Talc (1)

200

What minerals are harder than Quartz?

Topaz, Corundum, Diamond

300

Why would you not want to make a driveway out of a mineral with a 2 on the Moh’s scale?

The car would leave tracks and break the driveway.

400

This mineral can scratch fluorite but it cannot scratch Feldspar. What am I?

Apatite

500

This mineral can scratch Talc but it cannot scratch calcite. What am I?

Gypsum

Random

100

What are the 4 characteristics that a mineral must have?

1. naturally occurring (not man-made)

2. crystalline structure (repeating pattern of atoms)

3. Inorganic (not living/never living)

4. solid 

200

What does metallic, submetallic, and non-metallic describe?

luster

300

What type of test is used to determining the hardness of a mineral? 

scratch test

400

What type of test is used to determine the powdered form of a mineral? 

Streak test

500

What mineral can be identified using taste?

Halie (salty taste)

Characteristics

100

If a mineral is very shiny and reflects a lot of light then its luster is known as?

Metallic

200

If a mineral is very dull then its luster is known as?

non-metallic

300

What mineral possess the special property of magnetism, meaning they are attracted to magnets?

magnetite

400

What special property can some minerals show under a black-light?

Fluorescence. (Glowing)

500

A friend needs help identifying a mineral. Describe 4 characteristics that you would look for.

Naturally occurring, crystalline structure, inorganic, solid. Run the property test such as luster, streak, hardness, cleavage, etc.