Minerals

Which two elements make up the greatest percentages by mass in Earth’s crust?

• oxygen and potassium
• oxygen and silicon
• aluminum and potassium
• aluminum and silicon

Which mineral is commonly used as an abrasive?

• garnet

• halite

• sulfur

• graphite

The diagrams below represent the crystal shape and type of cleavage of two different minerals. The crystal shape and type of cleavage of these two minerals are determined mainly by the minerals’

• color and type of luster

• streak and hardness

• composition and atomic arrangement

• density and magnetism

Which two minerals are commercial sources of iron?

• galena and graphite

• muscovite mica and biotite mica

• garnet and fluorite

• hematite and magnatite

Which two physical properties of graphite make it a good mineral for use in pencils?

• luster and fracture

• cleavage and color

• hardness and streak

• greasy feel and composition

Which mineral is produced when two atoms of iron chemically combine with three atoms of oxygen?

• garnet

• pyrite

• magnetite

• hematite

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

The mineral anorthite is typically white to gray in color, has a hardness of 6.0, cleaves in two directions, and is used in making glass and ceramics. Which mineral has properties most similar to anorthite?

• quartz

• calcite

• pyroxene

• plagioclase feldspar

Which mineral is commonly mined as a source of the element lead (Pb)?

• galena

• quartz

• magnetite

• gypsum

The table above provides information about four minerals, A through D. Mineral A is most likely...

• Galena

• Garnet

• Olivine

• Halite

Which mineral can scratch A, B, and C, but cannot scratch D?

• Talc

• Fluorite

• Quartz

• Selenite Gypsum