Characteristics of Minerals
Minerals must be in this state of matter, often referred to as having a definite volume and shape
What is a solid?
A material's resistance to being scratched...often measured on "Mohs Scale"
What is hardness?
These minerals are shiny, and reflect light well
What are metallic minerals- metals?
Sulfides are made of one or more metals and _______.
What is sulfur?
This mineral is a 10 on Mohs Hardness Scale.
What is diamond?
All minerals come from materials that has never been alive. Another word for this.
What is inorganic?
The way a surface reflects light...we use the terms metallic and nonmetallic to describe this property
What is luster?
These minerals are dull, and do not reflect light well
What are nonmetallic minerals - nonmetals?
Daily Double
Part 1. The most common silicate mineral.
Part 2. Minerals with silicon are called silicates. What are minerals without silicon called?
What is Feldspar? What is non-silicate?
This mineral is often referred to as "fool's gold"
What is pyrite?
All minerals have a repeating pattern of structure.
What is crystal?
The color of the powder of a mineral.
What is streak?
Silicate minerals are made up of two elements...oxygen and _______
What is silicon?
The deepest mine in the world today and where is it.
What is Tau Tona Gold mine in South Africa?
Daily Double
Part 1. This mineral is often mistaken for lead, in a pencil. Name the mineral.
Part 2. A transparent mineral fluoresces red, exhibits double refraction and fizzes with HCl. Name the mineral.
What is graphite, calcite?
Name the special property that is the ability of a mineral to attract iron. Name the mineral that can do this.
What is magnetism and what is magnitite?
The tendency of some minerals to break along smooth, flat surfaces
What is cleavage?
This group of minerals contains sulfur, carbon, gold, and silver. They are made of only one type of atom. 2 words
What are the native elements or native minerals?
Obsidian, a mineral of volcanic origin, breaks in smooth, curved surfaces.
What type of fracture does it show?
a.conchoidal b.fibrous c.hacky d.uneven
What is a. conchoidal?
The softest mineral on Mohs Hardness Scale. (Often the main ingredient in baby powder)
What is Talc?
The process by which a crystal grows is called _____.
What is accretion?
The ratio of mass to volume of a substance.
What is density?
Daily Double-
Part A. A silicate mineral must contain these two elements
Part B. Mineral salts are more properly called __________.
What are silicon and oxygen? What are halides?
Natural mineral deposit that is large enough and pure enough to be mined for profit
What is ore?
A mineral sample gives a strong reading on a Geiger counter. You could conclude that the mineral is __________.
What is pitchblende (a uranium ore)?