Properties of Minerals

What is cleavage?

• The ability to cut or scratch other materials

• The ability to break into pieces with flat sides

• The ability to reflect light of certain colors

• The ability to change shape when melted

A student wanted to determine what mineral they possessed. If the student dragged the mineral across a ceramic tile and looked at the color of the powder left behind, which physical property did they test?

• Cleavage

• Streak

• Luster

• H

How can you test a minerals hardness?

• Shine a bright light at the mineral

• Scratch a mineral with a fingernail

• Look at the edges of a mineral

• Place a magnet near the mineral

Gary has a piece of diamond and a piece of graphite. He wants to test the hardness of these two minerals. When he rubs the diamond against the piece of graphite, the graphite gets scratched. When he rubs the piece of graphite against the diamond, the diamond does not get scratched. Which is true?

• The graphite is harder than the diamond.

• Both minerals have the same hardness

•  This test does not show which mineral is harder

•  The diamond is harder than the graphite

Which is related to the hardness of a mineral?

• how easy it is to scratch the mineral.

• how easy it is to melt the mineral.

• how easy it is to break the mineral.

• how easy it is to flatten the mineral.

Scientists can use the ______ of minerals to tell them apart

• Sound

• Size

• Length

• Color

Tags

CCSS.RF.1.3

CCSS.RF.1.4

CCSS.RF.2.3C

CCSS.RF.2.3E

CCSS.RF.3.3D

How is the streak color of a mineral best tested

• by breaking the mineral into several pieces

•  by scraping it across a tile of unglazed porcelain

•  by scratching the surface of the mineral with another mineral

• by holding it under a bright light

What name is given to the dust that is left on a surface after a mineral has been scraped across it

• Streak

• Cleavage

• Luster

• Color

Which of the following tests could a student do to find out whether a mineral has the property of cleavage

• rub the mineral on a white ceramic plate

• look at how shiny the mineral is

• try to scratch the mineral with a fingernail

• try to break the mineral along different directions

Miguel notices that a certain mineral can easily break apart into thin, flat sheets. What property of the mineral is he observing

• Streak

• Hardness

• Luster

• Cleavage