Mineral Characteristics Warm Up

A mineral breaks into pieces like are shown in the picture. How would you describe its breakage?

• Fracture
• Cleavage
• Glassy
• Waxy

Which minerals would all scratch apatite?

• diamond, topaz, quartz
• quartz, calcite, gypsum
• fluorite, talc, calcite
• diamond, fluorite, corundum

Which indicator would not be good as the only indicator when identifying a mineral? 

• Color
• Breaking Pattern
• Specific Gravity
• Hardness

Minerals are inorganic which means ___________________.

• they are living now
• they were living at one time
• they were never living
• they are grown without pesticides

Imagine that you work at a jeweler’s shop and someone brings in some gold nuggets for sale. You are not sure if the nuggets are real gold. Which identification test would help you decide whether the nuggets are gold?

• color
• luster
• streak
• magnetic

The definition of a mineral does NOT include:

• crystalline structure
• solid
• organic
• natural

Earthy, waxy, pearly, metallic, and glassy are all words used to describe a minerals

• streak
• luster
• color
• crystal system

A mineral is

• a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition. 
• an inorganic, solid, that has a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition. 
• a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, that has a definite chemical composition. 
• a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, that has a crystal structure.