Rocks and Minerals Review

What are 4 properties/attributes that can be used to identify minerals?

• shape, size, taste, and smell

• hardness, luster, texture, color

• round, square, heart shaped, diamond

What is the best property used to identify minerals?

• shape

• color

• hardness

• texture

True or false: A diamond is the hardest mineral.

• True

• False

What is the least helpful property when identifying a mineral?

• texture

• hardness

• color

• size

What characteristics CANNOT be used to identify rocks and minerals?

• shape, size, hardness

• shape, size, color

• shape, taste, texture

• shape, size, weight

Which question would not be the best question to ask to determine if the object/sample/specimen is a rock or a mineral?

• Is the object made of one material?

• Is the object made of one or more materials?

• Is the object made of the same material throughout?

• How much does the sample weigh? 

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

True or false:

The questions shown are the best questions to ask to determine if a sample is a rock or a mineral.

• True because weight, size and shape are the properties of minerals.

• False because hardness, luster, texture and color are the properties of minerals.

You found an object in your backyard. You want to figure out whether this object is a rock or a mineral. What question can you ask to determine if the object is a rock or a mineral?

• What is the shape of the object?

• What is the size of the object?

• How much does the object weigh?

• Is the object all one color?

David was given a clue card with the descriptions of two samples.

What question can David ask to identify which sample is a rock?

• Is the sample made of more than one type of material? 

• Is the sample pretty?

• Does the sample smell bad?

• Does the sample taste bad?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

A geologist found a specimen. The geologist must determine if it is a rock or a mineral. What questions should the geologist ask to determine if the specimen is a rock or a mineral?

• Is the specimen hard? Is the specimen soft?

• Is the specimen made of one or more minerals?

  Is the specimen made of the same material throughout?

• Is the specimen big? Is the specimen small?