3.1 What is a Mineral?

Can minerals occur as liquids? Why or why not?

• Yes, because they can melt.

• No, because they are always solid.

• Yes, because they can evaporate.

Minerals can form from the cooling of magma.

• True

• False

• Sometimes

• Never

Density differences can force magma upward into cooler layers of Earth’s interior.

• True

• False

• Only in certain conditions

• Rarely

Identification tests for minerals are based on their

• physical and chemical properties.

• color.

• scientific names.

• chemical composition.

Minerals break along planes where atomic bonds are

• weak.

• magnetic.

• dense.

• strong.

Minerals, such as quartz, that break along jagged edges are said to have

• fracture.

• cleavage.

• density.

• special properties.

Lodestone can pick up iron filings. What special property does lodestone have?

• a sticky texture

• a rotten-egg smell

• magnetism

• extreme heaviness