Quiz about Physical Properties of Minerals

Question 1

This mineral is referred to as "fool's gold," but it is very brittle. It has a metallic luster and is light yellow in color.

According to the table, which mineral is this?

Accepted Answer

Pyrite.

Answer

Gold.

Answer

Copper.

Answer

Quartz.

Question 2

This mineral is the softest and is used in powders. It is found mostly in metamorphic rock and is also called "soapstone."

According to the table, which mineral is this?

Accepted Answer

Talc.

Answer

Galena.

Answer

Gold.

Answer

Quartz.

Question 3

This mineral has a hardness of 2.5 - 3, is used in wires, coins, and pipes, and leaves a cooper or red streak.

According to the table, which mineral is this?

Accepted Answer

Copper.

Answer

Gold.

Answer

Galena.

Answer

Talc.

Question 4

Based on what you have learned, quartz, diamond, topaz and _______________ are all examples of minerals.

Accepted Answer

Talc.

Answer

Sand.

Answer

Steel.

Answer

Granite.

Question 5

On the Mohs Hardness Scale, a mineral with a lower number on the scale can:

Accepted Answer

Be scratched by minerals with a higher number on the scale.

Answer

Be used to cut glass.

Answer

Scratch a mineral with a higher number on the scale.

Answer

Resist being scratched by other material.

Question 6

This mineral is the hardest known substance to man; is used in cutting jewelry, and as a cutting instrument.

According to the table, which mineral is this?

Accepted Answer

Diamond.

Answer

Quartz.

Answer

Pyrite.

Answer

Talc.

Question 7

Which mineral property is identified by the color of the powder left behind when the mineral is rubbed across a rough surface?

Accepted Answer

Streak.

Answer

Hardness.

Answer

Luster.

Answer

Color.

Question 8

Students have a rock sample that may contain the mineral hematite. They know that hematite has a red or rusty streak. How can the students determine the color of the streak in the rock sample?

Accepted Answer

Rub the sample on a piece of clay tile.

Answer

Use a rock with the known mineral to strike, or hit the sample.

Answer

Use a file to break off a piece of the sample.

Answer

Scratch the sample with an iron nail.

Question 9

A student has a mineral sample. He wonders if the sample is the mineral mica. He knows the cleavage pattern of mica is a smooth, flat sheet. The student can best find out the cleavage pattern of the sample by:

Accepted Answer

Breaking off a piece of the mineral.

Answer

Shining a light on the mineral.

Answer

Soaking the mineral in water.

Answer

Rubbing a penny against the mineral.

Question 10

What can you infer about graphite from the fact that you can scratch it with just your fingernail?

Accepted Answer

It's not very hard.

Answer

It's not very lustrous.

Answer

It's streak is black - colored.

Answer

It has fracture.

Question 11

Which physical property of minerals requires no tools or other equipment to determine?

Accepted Answer

Color.

Answer

Hardness.

Answer

Fracture.

Answer

Cleavage.

Question 12

Based on what you have learned, how can minerals be identified?

HINT: Select all that apply!

Accepted Answer

By their physical properties.

Accepted Answer

By their color, luster, and hardness.

Answer

By their form, streak, and cleavage.

Question 13

Jane found a necklace with a stone that looked like a diamond. Her friend thought the stone was glass. Which test would best help Jane determine if the stone was a diamond or glass?

Accepted Answer

Hardness.

Answer

Color.

Answer

Luster.

Answer

Streak.

Question 14

John observes that a mineral is shiny, and he is unable to scratch it with a metal file. Which properties are being observed?

Accepted Answer

Luster and hardness.

Answer

Luster and color.

Answer

Streak and color.

Answer

Streak and hardness.

Question 15

One of the tests used to identify an unknown mineral is the luster test. What does the luster test identify?

Accepted Answer

Ability to reflect light.

Answer

Size.

Answer

Shape.

Answer

Ability to float.

Question 16

Some minerals can be identified based on the shapes they form when they break. What causes some minerals to break in specific shapes?

Accepted Answer

Cleavage.

Answer

Luster.

Answer

Streak.

Answer

Hardness.

Question 17

An unknown mineral will scratch feldspar but will not scratch corundum.

Remember, feldspar has a hardness of 6 - 6.5 like orthoclase.

Based on Moh's Hardness Scale, which mineral is MOST likely the unknown mineral?

Accepted Answer

Topaz.

Answer

Calcite.

Answer

Apatite.

Answer

Diamond.

Question 18

Based on Moh's Hardness Scale, which mineral would be able to scratch a copper penny that has a hardness of 3.5?

Accepted Answer

Fluorite.

Answer

Calcite.

Answer

Gypsum.

Answer

Talc.

Question 19

Diamond can scratch quartz and gypsum. Gypsum cannot scratch diamond or quartz. Quartz can scratch gypsum but not diamond.

What does this indicate about the hardness of these minerals?

Accepted Answer

Gypsum is the softest, quartz is harder, and diamond is the hardest.

Answer

Diamond is the softest, quartz is harder, and gypsum is the hardest.

Answer

Quartz is the softest, gypsum is harder, and diamond is the hardest.

Answer

Gypsum is the softest, diamond is harder, and quartz is the hardest.

Question 20

Based on what you have learned, how are minerals identified?

Accepted Answer

By testing the luster, hardness, color, and streak of the minerals.

Answer

By finding the specific mass of the minerals.

Answer

By checking the chemical composition of the minerals.

Answer

By determining the magnetic properties of the minerals.

Physical Properties of Minerals

20 questions

This mineral is referred to as "fool's gold," but it is very brittle. It has a metallic luster and is light yellow in color.

According to the table, which mineral is this?

This mineral is the softest and is used in powders. It is found mostly in metamorphic rock and is also called "soapstone."

According to the table, which mineral is this?

This mineral has a hardness of 2.5 - 3, is used in wires, coins, and pipes, and leaves a cooper or red streak.

According to the table, which mineral is this?

Based on what you have learned, quartz, diamond, topaz and _______________ are all examples of minerals.

On the Mohs Hardness Scale, a mineral with a lower number on the scale can:

This mineral is the hardest known substance to man; is used in cutting jewelry, and as a cutting instrument.

According to the table, which mineral is this?

Which mineral property is identified by the color of the powder left behind when the mineral is rubbed across a rough surface?

Students have a rock sample that may contain the mineral hematite. They know that hematite has a red or rusty streak. How can the students determine the color of the streak in the rock sample?

A student has a mineral sample. He wonders if the sample is the mineral mica. He knows the cleavage pattern of mica is a smooth, flat sheet. The student can best find out the cleavage pattern of the sample by:

What can you infer about graphite from the fact that you can scratch it with just your fingernail?

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Physical Properties of Minerals

20 questions

This mineral is referred to as "fool's gold," but it is very brittle. It has a metallic luster and is light yellow in color. According to the table, which mineral is this?

This mineral is the softest and is used in powders. It is found mostly in metamorphic rock and is also called "soapstone." According to the table, which mineral is this?

This mineral has a hardness of 2.5 - 3, is used in wires, coins, and pipes, and leaves a cooper or red streak.According to the table, which mineral is this?

Based on what you have learned, quartz, diamond, topaz and _______________ are all examples of minerals.

On the Mohs Hardness Scale, a mineral with a lower number on the scale can:

This mineral is the hardest known substance to man; is used in cutting jewelry, and as a cutting instrument.According to the table, which mineral is this?

Which mineral property is identified by the color of the powder left behind when the mineral is rubbed across a rough surface?

Students have a rock sample that may contain the mineral hematite. They know that hematite has a red or rusty streak. How can the students determine the color of the streak in the rock sample?

A student has a mineral sample. He wonders if the sample is the mineral mica. He knows the cleavage pattern of mica is a smooth, flat sheet. The student can best find out the cleavage pattern of the sample by:

What can you infer about graphite from the fact that you can scratch it with just your fingernail?

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Similar Resources on Wayground

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This mineral is referred to as "fool's gold," but it is very brittle. It has a metallic luster and is light yellow in color.

According to the table, which mineral is this?

This mineral is the softest and is used in powders. It is found mostly in metamorphic rock and is also called "soapstone."

According to the table, which mineral is this?

This mineral has a hardness of 2.5 - 3, is used in wires, coins, and pipes, and leaves a cooper or red streak.

According to the table, which mineral is this?

This mineral is the hardest known substance to man; is used in cutting jewelry, and as a cutting instrument.

According to the table, which mineral is this?