Minerals Study Quiz

You are on a field trip to a geological museum. The guide points to an exhibit and explains that it is a naturally occurring inorganic solid that possesses an orderly internal structure. What is he referring to?

• Hardness

• Streak

• Rock

• Mineral

You are on a field trip with your geology class and you stumble upon a solid mass of mineral or mineral-like material. What would you call this?

• Hardness

• Streak

• Rock

• Mineral

You are a scientist testing different materials for a new smartphone screen. You need to find a material that can resist scratches. What property should you be looking at?

• Hardness

• Streak

• Rock

• Mineral

You are a geologist studying different properties of minerals. You have a mineral in its powdered form. What property of the mineral are you most likely studying?

• Hardness

• Streak

• Rock

• Mineral

You are a geologist studying different minerals. You have a mineral sample that you are trying to identify. You know that it cannot scratch apatite, but apatite can scratch the sample. Based on the Mohs Hardness Scale, what is most likely the hardness of your mineral sample?

• 4

• 6

• 8

• 10

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A geologist found two gemstones of the same color during his field trip. What physical property could he test to help him identify the two gemstones?

• Relative Size

• Mass in Grams

• Streak Color

• Volume in mL

John, a geologist, is examining a mineral sample. He notes its color, hardness, luster, and streak. What is John trying to determine about the mineral?

• Identity

• Mass

• Age

• Location

A geologist is studying a newly discovered mineral. To determine its hardness, what method should they use?

• They should measure the mass of the mineral and compare it against other known minerals.

• They should observe how light reflects off the mineral and how the mineral looks as a result.

• They should observe the color of the mineral and compare it against other known minerals.

• They should scratch the mineral against other substances of known hardness.

You are a geologist studying different minerals. You have a mineral that can scratch fluorite, but is scratched by orthoclase feldspar. What could this mineral be?

• Calcite

• Talc

• Apatite

• Diamond

Imagine you are a geologist studying minerals. You decide to perform a streak test on a mineral sample you have. What property of the mineral are you determining with this test?

• The color of powder left behind when the mineral is rubbed on a surface.

• The amount of pore space in the mineral as measured by submerging it in water.

• The conductivity of a mineral, determined by attaching it to an electric circuit.

• The wavelength of light that is refracted when light passes through the mineral.