SCI8 Mineral Properties

Rocks contain minerals

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Which property of a mineral describes the appearance of its surface when light reflects off it?

• Hardness

• Lustre

• Streak

• Cleavage

Answer explanation

Lustre refers to the way light interacts with the surface of a mineral. It describes the appearance of the mineral's surface when light reflects off it

What property refers to the colour of a mineral's powdered form?

• Lustre

• Hardness

• Streak

• Crystal shape

Answer explanation

Streak refers to the colour of the powdered form of a mineral. It is determined by rubbing the mineral on a streak plate or unglazed porcelain tile

Which property measures a mineral's resistance to scratching or abrasion?

• Lustre

• Hardness

• Streak

• Crystal shape

Answer explanation

Hardness measures a mineral's resistance to scratching or abrasion. It is determined by the Mohs scale, which ranks minerals from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest)

What is the characteristic geometric shape of a mineral called?

• Lustre

• Hardness

• Streak

• Crystal shape

Answer explanation

The characteristic geometric shape of a mineral is called crystal shape or crystal habit. It is a result of the mineral's internal atomic arrangement

Which property describes the tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weakness?

• Lustre

• Hardness

• Streak

• Cleavage

Answer explanation

Cleavage describes the tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weakness due to its internal atomic structure. Cleavage can produce smooth, flat surfaces or planes.

What is the softest mineral on the Mohs scale of hardness?

• Quartz

• Talc

• Feldspar

• Diamond

Answer explanation

Talc is the softest mineral on the Mohs scale of hardness, with a hardness rating of 1. It is easily scratched by other minerals.

What type of lustre is characterized by a shiny, reflective surface like metal?

• Metallic

• Vitreous

• Pearly

• Dull

Answer explanation

Metallic lustre is characterized by a shiny, reflective surface like metal. Minerals with metallic lustre appear similar to metals in terms of their shine.

Which property of a mineral is determined by rubbing it on a streak plate?

• Lustre

• Hardness

• Streak

• Crystal shape

Answer explanation

Streak is the property of a mineral that is determined by rubbing it on a streak plate. The resulting colour of the mineral's powdered form is its streak

You look at a mineral to find this property. Many minerals can have more than one.

• Luster

• Cleavage

• Colour

• Streak

Answer explanation

The property being referred to in this question is colour. When examining a mineral, one of the first properties we observe is its colour. Colour can vary widely among minerals due to differences in their chemical composition. However, it's important to note that many minerals can exhibit multiple colours or variations within a single mineral species. This variation in colour can be caused by impurities, chemical changes, or the presence of different mineral phases within the same specimen. Therefore, while colour is a useful property for initial identification, it should be used in conjunction with other properties to accurately determine a mineral's identity.