Minerals Mastery Quiz

What is the hardness of a mineral that can scratch apatite but not orthoclase on the Mohs scale?

• 5

• 6

• 7

• 8

Which property of minerals describes their tendency to break along flat surfaces?

• Cleavage

• Fracture

• Luster

• Streak

What is the term for the color of a mineral's powder when it is rubbed on a porcelain plate?

• Luster

• Streak

• Cleavage

• Fracture

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic used to identify minerals?

• Smell

• Hardness

• Luster

• Specific gravity

What does the Mohs scale measure?

• The brightness of a mineral

• The density of a mineral

• The hardness of a mineral

• The elasticity of a mineral

Which mineral property involves the mineral breaking with uneven, rough, or jagged surfaces?

• Cleavage

• Fracture

• Streak

• Luster

What type of luster does a mineral have if it looks like a metal?

• Vitreous

• Pearly

• Metallic

• Dull

Which of the following minerals is the softest and can be scratched by all other minerals?

• Gypsum

• Calcite

• Talc

• Quartz

What is the specific gravity of a mineral a measure of?

• The mineral's weight compared to the weight of an equal volume of water

• The mineral's weight in the air

• The mineral's weight under pressure

• The mineral's weight in a vacuum

Which of the following is a test to determine a mineral's resistance to being scratched?

• Cleavage test

• Streak test

• Hardness test

• Specific gravity test