Properties of Minerals

List the five characteristics necessary for a substance to be a mineral.

• Solid, naturally occurring, organic, crystal structure and Chemical Composition

•  naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition.

• Solid, naturally occurring, organic, crystal share and Chemical Composition

One special property of mica that would help you tell it apart from any other mineral is that it

• bubbles in acid.

• breaks into thin sheets.

• is the only gray mineral.

• can scratch all other minerals.

You and your classmates have been challenged to identify six minerals. You begin with a glassy, pink mineral. The mineral can scratch glass. Based on these three properties, the mineral is MOST LIKELY

• calcite

• feldspar

• gypsum

• quartz

A mineral's tendency to break along planes of weakness is known as

• cleavage

• fracture

• hardness

• luster

For a substance to be a mineral it must meet every category mentioned below EXCEPT one. That criteria is

• it can scratch glass.

• it has a crystal form.

• it is naturally occurring.

• it is not from a living animal or plant.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Sarah and Sue were trying to identify minerals in science class. They initially divided all of the samples based on whether or not they had a opaque and reflective luster. Donald questioned this tactic: "Why are you doing that?" Sarah told him that it helped to classify minerals as

• hard or soft.

• made-man or natural.

• shiny or dull.

• silicates or carbonates.

Caroline has a collection of minerals, and she wants to identify each mineral. Which property would be the BEST for Caroline to use to help her correctly identify each mineral?

• length

• weight

• hardness

• color

Which one is not a property used to identify minerals?

• streak

• luster

• hardness

• size

the way a mineral's surface reflects light.

• streak

• luster

• color

• hardness

Which of the following minerals is one of the hardest minerals?

• pearl

• diamond

• talc

• quartz