Rocks & Minerals - Content Review

What determines the composition of a rock?

• the texture it has

• the deposition that occurs

• the minerals it is made of

• the weathering of nearby rocks

At a construction site, one of the workers found a rock containing a metal that can be mined and sold at a profit. What type of rock did the worker likely discover?

• Gem

• Ore

• Crystal

• Gemstone

A student is conducting an investigation. He wrongly determines that brick, steel and glass are minerals. Why are they NOT classified as minerals?

• They are not classified as minerals because they are organic.

• They are not classified as minerals because they are too hard.

• They are not classified as minerals because they have many uses.

• They are not classified as minerals because they are not naturally occurring.

If you have Mineral A with a hardness of 3 and Mineral B with a hardness of 7, which would you use in building materials?

• mineral A because it is softer

• mineral A because it is harder

• mineral B because it is softer

• mineral B because it is harder

Students were investigating the growth of crystals using a hot plate and a refrigerator. They wanted to know if the rate of cooling would affect the formation of crystals. Which of the following observations would be correct and help them in sorting the rocks into the correct group?

• Larger crystals formed in the beaker on the hot plate, where cooling is slower.

• Larger crystals formed in the beaker in the refrigerator, where cooling is faster.

• Smaller crystals formed in the beaker on the hot plate, where cooling is slower.

• Smaller crystals formed in the beaker in the refrigerator, where cooling is slower.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

Students in Earth science were conducting an investigation to collect data on the characteristics of minerals. The diagram below shows three minerals undergoing physical tests, A, B, and C. Which sequence correctly matches each test, A, B, and C, with the mineral property tested and includes the results most useful for determining?

• A-cleavage; B-streak; C-hardness → most useful for determining the type of mineral

• A-cleavage; B- hardness; C–streak → most useful for determining the rate of weathering

• A-streak; B-cleavage; C-hardness → most useful for determining the type of mineral

• A-streak; B-hardness; C-cleavage → most useful for determining the rate of weathering

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A group of 6th grade students are taking a field trip to the Chattanooga river in order to take water samples. Students noticed that their samples taken from three different locations of the river, the rocks were the same, but the minerals within the rocks were different. Which of the following statements best proposes a way for students to plan and carry out an investigation that can determine the type of mineral that contributed to the formation of rocks?

• Students can set up various tests to observe the different properties of the mineral because all minerals have the same properties.

• Students can set up various test to observe the different characteristics of the mineral because minerals have different characteristics.

• Students can set up various tests to observe the different properties of the minerals because minerals have different properties.

• Students will not need to set up any test because if the rock is the same mineral that contributes to the formation share the same characteristics and properties.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A teacher gave the class a mixture of rocks and minerals to observe. The class was asked to construct an explanation of why the object of their choosing cannot be considered a mineral. Which statement best explains why coal is not considered a mineral?

• Coal is not a mineral because it comes from organic materials and does not have a crystalline structure.

• Coal is not a mineral because it is inorganic and it is not naturally occurring.

• Coal is not a mineral because it is inorganic and it is naturally occurring.

• Coal is not a mineral because it comes from organic materials and has a crystalline structure.

Students in an Earth science class were presented with a question by their teacher. One group’s answer to the question is presented in the table. Based on the response, which of the following question did the teacher most likely ask?

• What are some examples of rocks (group B) and minerals (group A)?

• What are some examples of minerals (group B) and rocks (group A)?

• What are some examples of characteristics (group A) and physical properties (group B)

• What are some examples of physical properties (group A) and characteristics (group B)?

A scientist is observing mineral samples, however he is not sure of one of the samples. He proposes that it is a diamond. The scientist observes a clear color but knows that color alone is not a reliable property of identifying an unknown mineral. Which additional test should the scientist perform that would best confirm the mineral he is observing is a diamond?

• The scientist should perform a magnetism test because diamonds have the ability to be attached to a magnet.

• The scientist should perform a streak test because diamonds leave a colorless streak on a streak plate.

• The scientist should perform a hardness test because diamonds have a hardness of 10 and is considered the hardest mineral.

• The scientist should observe the luster because diamonds are known to have a shiny appearance.