Understanding Minerals: A Quiz on Physical Properties

What did Bea initially think about the three minerals in her collection?

• They were all the same

• They were unimportant

• They were all different

• They were made of glass

What characteristic is NOT used to identify minerals?

• Color

• Taste

• Luster

• Hardness

What is a mineral?

• A type of rock

• A synthetic material

• A type of plant

• A naturally occurring solid with organized atoms

What does the luster of a mineral describe?

• Its taste

• Its surface appearance

• Its smell

• Its weight

What does the crystal form of a mineral refer to?

• Its color

• Its smell

• The shape it forms

• Its taste

What is the purpose of using a streak plate in mineral identification?

• To measure its weight

• To see its color when powdered

• To determine its smell

• To check its temperature

What does the streak test show about a mineral?

• Its weight

• Its smell

• Its true color when powdered

• Its hardness

What does cleavage refer to in terms of mineral properties?

• How it breaks along flat planes

• The taste of the mineral

• The smell of the mineral

• The color of the mineral

What happens when a mineral has fracture?

• It becomes heavier

• It dissolves in water

• It breaks randomly

• It changes color

What can the Mohs hardness scale tell you about a mineral?

• Its color

• Its ability to resist being scratched

• Its smell

• Its weight