Advanced Rocks and Minerals Quiz

Which of the following statements correctly differentiates between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks?

• Igneous rocks form from magma, sedimentary rocks form from weathering, and metamorphic rocks form under heat and pressure.

• Sedimentary rocks form directly from cooling magma, igneous rocks form under pressure, and metamorphic rocks form by erosion.

• Metamorphic rocks form from deposition of sediments, igneous rocks form from magma, and sedimentary rocks form under heat and pressure.

• Igneous rocks form under erosion, sedimentary rocks form from cooling magma, and metamorphic rocks form by deposition.

A mineral scratches glass but not quartz. Its streak is white, and it reacts with hydrochloric acid. What is the mineral?

• Calcite

• Dolomite

• Feldspar

• Fluorite

What type of rock can be directly transformed into any other rock type in the rock cycle?

• Igneous

• Sedimentary

• Metamorphic

• Any of the above

Which rare mineral is a significant ore of tantalum, used in electronics?

• Cassiterite

• Beryl

• Columbite-Tantalite

• Galena

What is the correct term for the texture of an igneous rock containing large crystals embedded in a finer-grained matrix?

• Porphyritic

• Phaneritic

• Aphanitic

• Vesicular

Which mineral is hardest on Mohs hardness scale?

• Topaz

• Quartz

• Corundum

• Diamond

What is the term for the process by which sediments are compacted and cemented into solid rock?

• Lithification

• Metamorphism

• Erosion

• Crystallization

Which metamorphic rock is formed from limestone?

• Quartzite

• Slate

• Marble

• Schist

Which rock type is most likely to host petroleum and natural gas reserves?

• Igneous

• Sedimentary

• Metamorphic

• Volcanic

A mineral breaks along flat planes due to weak bonds in its structure. This property is known as:

• Fracture

• Cleavage

• Streak

• Luster