Properties of Minerals (Sect. 1)

A mineral's tendency to break along planes of weakness is known as

• cleavage

• fracture

• hardness

• luster

For a substance to be a mineral it must meet every category mentioned below EXCEPT one. That criteria is

• it can scratch glass.

• it has a crystal form.

• it is naturally occurring.

• it is not from a living animal or plant.

Sarah and Sue were trying to identify minerals in science class. They initially divided all of the samples based on whether or not they had a opaque and reflective luster. Donald questioned this tactic: "Why are you doing that?" Sarah told him that it helped to classify minerals as

• hard or soft.

• made-man or natural.

• shiny or dull.

• silicates or carbonates.

The color of a minerals powder is called its ________________.

• streak
• luster
• color
• crystal system

How light shines off a mineral is called a mineral's ________________.
(dull, metalic, non-metalic)

• streak
• luster
• color
• crystal system

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What is the hardest mineral on Earth?

• talc
• diamond
• ruby
• topaz

The ability of a mineral to resist scratching is called ___________.

• Streak
• Fracture
• Hardness
• Cleavage

______ is the observable tint/look of a mineral.

• Luster
• Streak
• Hardness
• Color

Hardness is a property that helps identify minerals. Scientists use a scale of 1-10 to show the hardness of a mineral. What number would be given to the hardest?

• 1
• 5
• 6
• 10

Hardness is a property that helps identify minerals. Scientists use a scale of 1-10 to show the hardness of a mineral. What number would be given to the softest?

• 1
• 3
• 5
• 10