Mineral Properties Quiz

Which term is used to describe a physical property of a mineral?

• organic

• solid

• gaseous

• fossiliferous

Which property of a mineral is most likely being tested when it is scratched with a nail?

• color

• hardness

• cleavage

• luster

Students made tables showing different properties of some minerals. One student’s table is below.

How are the minerals arranged in the table?

• by similar color

• from softest to hardest

• alphabetically by name

• from most dense to least dense

The breaking of a mineral into small, flat sheets is known as

• luster

• streak

• cleavage

• hardness

A student finds that an unidentified mineral sample can scratch gypsum but is unable to scratch quartz. The student has made an observation about which property of the sample?

• luster

• hardness

• density

• reactivity

Students observed that a diamond was able to scratch a piece of talc. What does this observation best support?

• Diamonds have sharp edges.

• Talc is softer than diamonds.

• Diamonds are very valuable.

• Talc and diamonds are both minerals.

The table describes how four different rocks form. Which of these rocks is an igneous rock?

• basalt

• limestone

• marble

• sandstone

Which type of rock can have fossils in it?

• melted rock

• igneous rock

• sedimentary rock

• metamorphic rock

What has to happen first for sedimentary rock to form?

• a landslide

• a volcanic eruption