ES.4 Minerals

ES.4 Minerals

I can explain the formation, properties, and uses of minerals

In order to be classified as a mineral, it must have all 5 of these characteristics:

• Natural: it must occur naturally

• Inorganic: it must NOT be made from living things or the remains of living things

• Solid: solid everywhere on Earth's surface

• Definite chemical composition: must have the same chemical formula throughout

• Crystalline structure: atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern making a specific shape

Multiple Select

Select all of the following that are characteristics of a mineral.

• natural

• changing chemical composition

• organic

• solid

• crystalline structure

Multiple Select

Which of the following do NOT classify as a mineral because they don't meet all 5 characteristics?

• wood

• iceberg

• salt

• quartz

• coal

Mineral Identification Properties

• Color: most easily observed, but the least reliable

• Luster: how a mineral reflects light

• Hardness: rated on the Mohs scale from 1, softest, to 10, hardest

• Streak: color of the powder scraped off a mineral

• Cleavage: breaking along flat surfaces

• Density: amount of matter in a given volume

Multiple Choice

What is the name of a mineral if it is NOT scratched by a fingernail, but IS scratched by a copper penny? Use the provided Mohs Hardness Scale.

• Topaz

• Calcite

• Apatite

• Fluorite

Multiple Choice

What is the name of a mineral if it is NOT scratched by a knife/glass plate, but IS scratched by a steel nail? Use the provided Mohs Hardness Scale.

• Quartz

• Apatite

• Orthoclase

• Corundum

Multiple Choice

What is the possible name of a mineral if it is NOT scratched by a masonry drill bit or any of the other items? Use the provided Mohs Hardness Scale.

• Talc

• Gypsum

• Orthoclase

• Corundum

Multiple Select

A mineral with a hardness of 5 on the Mohs scale would be scratched by ALL of the following:

• Fingernail

• Copper penny

• Knife/glass plate

• Steel nail

• Masonry drill bit

Multiple Select

A mineral with a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale would be scratched by ALL of the following:

• Fingernail

• Copper penny

• Knife/glass plate

• Steel nail

• Masonry drill bit

Multiple Select

A mineral with a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale would be scratched by ALL of the following:

• Fingernail

• Copper penny

• Knife/glass plate

• Steel nail

• Masonry drill bit

Multiple Choice

If a mineral breaks along flat surfaces, it demonstrates this property.

• color

• luster

• streak

• cleavage

Multiple Choice

If a mineral is said to be "metallic", this is a description of its:

• color

• luster

• streak

• cleavage

Multiple Choice

If a mineral is gold in color, but the powdered color is rusty brown, this is an example of its:

• color

• luster

• streak

• cleavage

Multiple Choice

This mineral identification property is the most easily observed, but the least reliable.

• color

• luster

• streak

• cleavage