Properties of minerals

Front

What is a property used to identify minerals?

Back

Properties used to identify minerals include streak, luster, hardness, and color.

Front

Which property describes how light reflects off a mineral's surface?

Back

Luster describes how light reflects off a mineral's surface.

Front

What is the softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness scale?

Back

Talc is the softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness scale.

Front

What does the term 'streak' refer to in mineralogy?

Back

Streak refers to the color of the powder left behind when a mineral is rubbed against a tile.

Front

Which mineral has a metallic luster and a black streak?

Back

Magnetite has a metallic luster and a black streak.

Front

What is the Mohs Hardness scale used for?

Back

The Mohs Hardness scale is used to rank minerals based on their hardness.

Front

What is the definition of 'hardness' in relation to minerals?

Back

Hardness is a measure of a mineral's resistance to being scratched.

Front

What does 'color' refer to in the context of minerals?

Back

Color refers to the appearance of a mineral in reflected light.

Front

What is the difference between 'cleavage' and 'fracture' in minerals?

Back

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces, while fracture is the way a mineral breaks in an irregular manner.

Front

What is an example of a mineral with a pearly luster?

Back

Talc can exhibit a pearly luster.