Minerals Review

Why is salt classified as a mineral but sugar is not?

• BOTH ARE MINERALS

• SALT IS MINED NATURALLY FROM THE GROUND

• NEITHER ARE MINERALS

• SUGAR IS ORGANIC

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Can minerals occur as liquids?

• YES

• NO

• SOMETIMES

• OCCASSIONALLY

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

What is the Mohs hardness scale and what is the range?

• 1-7

• 1-5

• 1-10

• 1-100

What is the hardest mineral, softest mineral?

Geologists use physical properties to identify minerals. For example, the ______ of a mineral is caused by the presence of different trace elements.

The way a mineral reflects light from its surface is called ______, which is described as metallic or nonmetallic.

A mineral’s ______ is the color of a mineral when it is broken up and powdered.

A measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched is called ______.

Another property describes how a mineral will break. If a mineral splits easily and evenly along one or more planes, it has the property of ______, while minerals that break along jagged edges are said to have ______.

• cleavage

• fracture

Identification tests for minerals are based on their

• scientific names

• color

• physical and chemical properties

• chemical composition