Mineral Properties DUL

What is a mineral?

• A mineral is a man-made substance with no specific chemical composition.
• A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a specific chemical composition and a crystalline structure.
• A mineral is a type of plant or animal species.
• A mineral is a liquid substance found in nature.

What test can be performed to determine a mineral powder?

• Hardness test

• Streak test

• Acid test

• Cleavage test

How light reflects off a mineral's surface is known as what?

• Luster

• Streak

• Cleavage

• Fracture

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

What is the name of the scale that determines how hard a mineral is?

• Richter scale

• Mohs scale

• Beaufort scale

• Saffir-Simpson scale

What is the hardest known mineral?

• Quartz

• Diamond

• Topaz

• Gypsum

What is the softest known mineral?

• Calcite

• Talc

• Fluorite

• Apatite

A mineral property that splits along a flat surface is known as what?

• Luster

• Streak

• Cleavage

• Fracture

A mineral property that splits apart unevenly is known as what?

• Luster

• Streak

• Cleavage

• Fracture

Is glass a mineral? Explain why or why not.

• Yes, because it has a crystalline structure.

• No, because it is not a naturally occurring substance.

• Yes, because it is hard and transparent.

• No, because it is man-made and does not have a definite chemical composition.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-3

Earthy, greasy, pearly, shiny, metallic and waxy all describe which mineral property?

• Color

• Hardness

• Luster

• Streak