Properties Minerals Practice

Front

What is the Mohs Hardness Scale?

Back

A scale that ranks minerals based on their hardness, from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).

Front

What is the hardness of diamond on the Mohs Hardness Scale?

Back

10

Front

What does the streak of a mineral refer to?

Back

The color of the powder left behind when a mineral is scraped across a surface.

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

A substance that forms in nature, is a solid, has a definite chemical makeup, and has a crystal structure.

Front

Which of the following is NOT a requirement of a mineral?

Back

Formed under the earth’s surface.

Front

What is a crystal?

Back

A solid in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating 3D pattern.

Front

What is the definition of 'hardness' in minerals?

Back

The resistance of a mineral to being scratched.

Front

What is the significance of a mineral's luster?

Back

It describes the way in which light reflects from its surface, indicating whether it is metallic or non-metallic.

Front

What does 'naturally occurring' mean in the context of minerals?

Back

A mineral must form through natural geological processes, not artificially created.

Front

What is meant by 'definite chemical composition' in minerals?

Back

Minerals have a specific chemical formula that defines their composition.