Properties of Minerals Review

Minerals 1

100

What is the definition of organic?

made from living things

200

Minerals must occur _______ in the Earth's crust.

naturally

300

The repeating pattern minerals are arranged in is called a ______.

crystal

400

Extremely hard (10 on Mohs Hardness Scale) and translucent crystal

What is Diamond?

500

Tell me the steps to complete a Mohs hardness scale test. 

Testing a Mineral’s Hardness

1.Locate a clean surface on the mineral being tested

2.Hold the mineral firmly and try to scratch it with another object of known hardness

3.Look for a scratch line on the mineral – you may have to rub your finger over the line to feel if there is a scratch

4.If the mineral was able to be scratched, then it is softer than the other object

5.If the mineral was not able to be scratched, then it is harder than the other object

6.Repeat the process with other objects of known hardness to determine the approximate hardness of the mineral sample

Minerals 2

100

what is the definition of inorganic?

not made from living things

200

A mineral's atoms are arranged in a definite repeating _____ create a crytsal.

Pattern

300

What does the luster of a mineral mean?

How it shines in light.

400

Tell me the two categories of luster.

What are metallic and non-metallic?

500

Tell me a property that is not THE BEST for determining the mineral.

Bonus - WHY?

What is color?

Answers may vary

Minerals 3

100

Rocks are made of______.

Minerals

200

What is Hardness of a mineral?

what it can scratch

300

What is the softest mineral on Moh's hardness test?

Talc

400

If a number is high on the Mohs Hardness scale, what will it scratch?

What is anything with a LOWER number?

500

If a number is LOW on the Mohs Hardness scale, what will it scratch?

What is, it will not scratch anything with a number ABOVE it?

Minerals 4

100

What is the color of a mineral?

What color it is!

200

What is the cleavage of a mineral?

What is, if the mineral will break off in flat thin sheets?

300

What is the hardest mineral on Moh's hardness test?

Diamond

400

If the mineral breaks in an irregular pattern.

What is fracture?

500

Glassy appearance in non-metallic luster. 

What is Vitreous? 

Minerals 5

100

Scientist who study minerals

Mineralogist

200

What is the streak of a mineral?

What color powder does it leave on the tile.

300

List the 7 categories of physical properties of minerals.

•Hardness

•Luster

•Crystal Structure

•Streak

•Color

•Cleavage

•Fracture

400

Tell me the difference between a scratch test and a streak test. 

Scratch Test - Testing HARDNESS of the mineral.

Streak Test - Color of the mineral in powder form.

500

Tell me all 5 characteristics that minerals MUST have.

•Naturally Occurring

•Solid

•Forms by inorganic processes

•Crystal structure

•Definite chemical composition