Minerals and Rock-Forming Quiz

What is a mineral?

• A type of rock

• A man-made substance

• A naturally occurring, inorganic crystalline solid

• A living organism

Which property measures a mineral's resistance to being scratched?

• Luster

• Cleavage

• Hardness

• Color

What is the least reliable property for identifying minerals?

• Hardness

• Color

• Luster

• Fracture

Which mineral group contains silicon and oxygen?

• Oxides

• Halides

• Carbonates

• Silicates

What is the term for the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces?

• Hardness

• Luster

• Cleavage

• Fracture

Which mineral reacts visibly with acid?

• Calcite

• Feldspar

• Mica

• Quartz

What is the property that describes how a mineral reflects light?

• Luster

• Color

• Hardness

• Fracture

Which of the following is a native element?

• Halite

• Gypsum

• Calcite

• Gold

What is the main component of carbonate minerals?

• Silicon

• Sulfur

• Oxygen

• Carbon

Which mineral is known for its slippery feel?

• Talc

• Quartz

• Gypsum

• Halite