Rocks and Minerals Quiz Corrections

Stacey’s teacher gave the class a mixture of rocks and mineral 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.

Based on the response, which of the following questions 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)?

Using the MOHS scale, list the following minerals in order of increasing hardness: apatite, calcite, corundum, feldspar, and talc.

• corundum, feldspar, apatite, calcite, talc

• apatite, calcite, corundum, feldspar, talc

• talc, calcite, apatite, feldspar, corundum

• talc, feldspar, corundum, calcite, apatite

Brick, steel, and glass all come from substances found in Earth’s crust. Would they be classified as minerals?

• Yes, because they are organic.

• No, because they are too hard.

• Yes, because they have a definite chemical composition.

• No, because they are not naturally occurring.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-3

Which of the following substances is a mineral?

• Coal, which forms from the remains of living things.

• Fluorite, which is a crystalline solid with the chemical formula CaF2 .

• Obsidian, which is a volcanic glass and is not crystalline.

• Brass, which is a metal that is made by humans.

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

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 are used to determine the type of mineral

• A-cleavage; B- hardness; C–streak are used to determine the rate of weathering

• A-streak; B-cleavage; C-hardness are used to determine the type of mineral

• A-streak; B-hardness; C-cleavage are used to determine the rate of weathering

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Granite is an intrusive igneous rock. Granite is composed of a variety of hard minerals. The minerals that are found in granite are light in color and have a colorless luster. Two students conducted an investigation to identify possible minerals that are found in granite. Which statement best explains the students’ predictions?

Student A: Hematite

Student B: Quartz

• Student A is incorrect because hematite is not a hard mineral.

• Student A is correct because hematite has a dull luster.

• Student B is correct because quartz has a light streak.

• Student B is incorrect because quartz has a dark color.

How does magma become a sedimentary rock?

• magma → melting → igneous rock → erosion → sedimentary rock

• magma → cooling → sedimentary rock

• magma → melting → metamorphic rock → heat and pressure → sedimentary rock

• magma → cooling → igneous rock → erosion → sedimentary rock

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Students are investigating the three main types of rocks that can be observed on Earth surface. A 6th grade science teacher wants his students to classify the rocks using the table below. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn based on the information available?

• Sample A is a sedimentary rock, sample B is an igneous rock, sample C is metamorphic rock.

• Sample A is a sedimentary rock, sample C is an igneous rock, sample B is metamorphic rock.

• Sample C is a sedimentary rock, sample B is an igneous rock, sample A is metamorphic rock.

• Sample B is a sedimentary rock, sample A is an igneous rock, sample C is metamorphic rock