Mineral Quiz

The color of a mineral in powder form is called?

• hardness
• specific gravity
• luster
• streak

How light reflects off of a mineral is called?

• luster
• streak
• cleavage
• fracture

Why is coal not a mineral?

• It's not a solid
• It is man-made
• It is not inorganic
• It is made of carbon

How do you test the hardness of a mineral? 

• Throw it against a wall
• Step on it
• Scratch Test
• Kick it until it breaks

What mineral is used for pencils?

• Graphite
• Galena
• Magnetite
• Quartz

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-3

Diamond and graphite are both minerals that are composed of the element carbon. Diamond has a hardness of 10, while graphite has a hardness of 1. What is the most probable cause of this difference in hardness?

• internal arrangement of atoms

• diamond is heavier

• graphite is lighter

• mineral color

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Minerals are identified on the basis of:

• the method by which they were formed

• the type of rock in which they are formed

• the size of their crystals

• their physical and chemical properties

Which mineral is easily identifiable by the special property of reacting (bubbling) with acid?

• calcite

• quartz

• pyroxene

• talc

What do you call the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces?

• Cleavage

• Streak

• Luster

• Fracture

This mineral forms very small crystals and is a glassy rich green to pale green color and will scratch glass.

• Quartz

• Olivine

• Chalcedony

• Orthoclase

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2