3 Minerals Test

There are at least 3000 known minerals in Earth’s crust.

• True

• False

Minerals can be identified based on their physical and chemical properties.

• True

• False

Trace elements in a mineral do not affect the color or the value of the mineral.

• True

• False

A mineral’s __________ rarely changes, but sometimes does not match its external color.

• streak

• fracture

• hardness

• cleavage

Mica has perfect __________ in one direction; it breaks in sheets.

• fracture

• cleavage

• crystal

• silicates

When flint and opals break, they have a unique __________ with arclike patterns.

• fracture

• luster

• streak

• hardness

If you took random samples of minerals from several locations, which type of mineral would you likely have more of—oxides, silicates, or carbonates? Why?

• Silicates, because they are the most abundant

• Oxides, because they are rare

• Carbonates, because they are common in oceans

• None, because all are equally distributed

What can you conclude about the atomic bonds along a plane of cleavage?

• They are weak, allowing the mineral to split

• They are strong, preventing any breakage

• They are flexible, allowing bending

• They are magnetic, attracting other minerals

Which mineral is described as having a bluish green or green color?

• Apatite

• Beryl

• Garnet

• Corundum

What is the hardness of Apatite?

• 5

• 6–6.5

• 7.5–8

• 9