Are you ready for the Minerals Quest?

The mineral Cuprite is a compound with the chemical formula Cu₂O. What is the samllest unit of the mineral Cuprite?

• element

• atom

• molecule

• mixture

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Using the chart, what test would be the best to distinguish between Quartz and Halite?

• Color

• Luster

• Hardness

• Streak

Diamonds are extremely effective at polishing, cutting, and drilling so diamond particles are often added to drills and saws. Why are diamonds so useful for these purposes?

• Diamonds have a density of 3.5g/cm3

• Diamonds have a hardness of 10

• Diamonds are rare and beautiful

• Diamonds come in many different colors

When HCl reacts with the carbonates in minerals you see bubbles as CO₂ is releases. Why is this an example of a chemical reaction?

• The mineral breaks apart

• The mineral fluoresces

• The mineral changes color

• A new substance is produced

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

The Wieliczka Salt mine in Poland used to have a series of large underground salt water lakes most of which which have since dried up. The area currently contains a huge amount of the mineral halite. This halite formed as a result of:

• conservation

• evaporation

• sublimation

• condensation

Sphalerite (ZnS), an ore, is a source of zinc. The demand for zinc is high because it is used to galvanise other metals, such as iron, to prevent rusting. Why is sphalerite considered an ore?

• Around 95% of all zinc is extracted from sphaleritic ores

• Zinc from sphalerite ore is used to make pennies

• Saphalerite can be mined at a profit

• Saphalerite can also be polished and considered a gem

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

To be a gem, a mineral needs to be...

• Beautiful, rare and valuable

• Extracted using the process of smelting

• Formed in arid environments

• a pure substance

Smelting is a way to...

• remove metals from ore

• remove impurities in a gem

• remove water from mineral deposits

• remove a gem from a rock

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Which of the following is NOT a mineral?

• ice

• halite

• garnet

• bone

A mineral has atoms or molecules that are arranged in an orderly, repeating pattern to form crystals? Which TWO models show a crystal structure?

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Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1