Identifying Rocks and Minerals
Minerals
Rocks
Properties of Rocks and Minerals
Hardness of 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
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. 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.
What is C) They can shine light on the minerals to see how much light they reflect.
100
Scientist often perform a Scratch Test to determine the hardness of minerals. They use the...
A) Luster Scale
B) Mohs Hardness Scale
C) Hardness Scale of Rocks
What is B) Mohs Hardness Scale
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 mineral by seeing how shiny it is
C) a scale that tests the hardness of a mineral by seeing what color powder is left behind
D) a scale that tests the hardness of a mineral by looking at its breakage pattern
What is A) a scale that tests the hardness of a mineral by scratching other materials
200
Which type of Rock is Stone Mountain?
A) Feldspar
B) Crystals of Quartz
C) Granite
What is C) Granite
200
Which of these would be the most helpful when identifying a mineral?
A) mass/weight
B) color
C) shape
D) temperature
What is B) color
200
Diamond has a hardness of 10, and a shiny luster. Using this information, why are diamonds able to scratch all other minerals on the Mohs Hardness Scale?
A) A diamond's luster makes it strong.
B) A diamond's hardness of 10 means it is the hardest mineral.
C) A diamond is the prettiest gem on the chart.
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 of 10 means it is the hardest mineral.
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
You are a geologist classifying minerals. One way you decide to group the minerals is by luster. Which question will best help you 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) luster
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
Listed below are some Minerals and their Hardness from the MOHS SCALE.
Feldspar = 6
Quartz = 7
Topaz = 8
Ruby= 9
Which mineral can scratch Quartz, but cannot scratch Ruby?
A) Feldspar
B) Ruby
C)Topaz
D)Quartz
What is C) Topaz
500
One major difference between a rock and a mineral is that...
A. rocks are the building blocks of minerals
B. minerals are the building blocks of rocks
C. all rocks contain fossils
D. minerals do not form naturally
What is B) minerals are the building blocks of rocks
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
If Talc is the softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness scale, then which of these sentences is true.
A) Only another piece of talc can scratch talc.
B) There is nothing that can scratch talc.
C) A mineral with a hardness of 2 can scratch talc.
What is C) A mineral with a hardness of 2 can scratch talc.