Properties and Characteristics of Minerals

In order to be called a mineral, a substance must have which of the following?

• Definite chemical composition
• Cleavage
• Streak
• Luster

Which of the following is NOT a property a mineral must have to be called a mineral

• Solid
• Inorganic
• Crystal structure
• Hardness

When a mineral breaks along flat, even plains it is said to have the characteristic of

• Fracture
• Cleavage
• Streak
• Luster

In order for a substance to be called a mineral, it must be inorganic.  What does this mean?

• Made up of once living organisms
• Breaks irregurlarly
• Not made up of once living organisms

The color of a minerals powder is called its

• streak
• luster
• color
• crystal system

Earthy, waxy, pearly, metallic, and glassy are all words used to describe a minerals

• streak
• luster
• color
• crystal system

What is the hardest mineral on Earth?

• talc
• diamond
• ruby
• topaz

Minerals sometimes have special properties.  Which of the following is NOT a special property a mineral may have. 

• Magnetism
• Fluorescence
• Smell
• Sound

A mineral is

• a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition. 
• an inorganic, solid, that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition. 
• a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, that has a definite chemical composition. 
• a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, that has a crystal structure. 

When you find mass per unit volume of a mineral, you are testing its

• Luster
• Streak
• Density
• Crystal structure