Physical Properties of Minerals

Dull, silky, waxy, pearly, and earthy are terms that best describe which property of minerals?

• luster

• color

• streak

• cleavage

Hardness is a property that helps identify minerals. Scientists use a scale of 1-10 to show the hardness of a mineral. What number would be given to the hardest?

• 1

• 10

• 5

• 7

What is shown here?

• luster

• hardness

• cleavage

• streak

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

Amount of matter in a given space.

• breakage

• hardness

• cleavage

• density

What is the softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale?

• Diamond

• Gypsum

• Topaz

• Talc

___________ breaks in irregular or with jagged edges.

• properties

• hardness

• cleavage

• fracture

Which indicator would not be good as the only indicator when identifying a mineral?

• Color

• Breaking Pattern

• Specific Gravity

• Hardness

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Observe number and angle of crystal faces

• Cleavage and Fracture

• Crystal(line) Structure/ Shape

• Color

• Luster

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

A ________ is a naturally occurring, inorganic, solid with a crystal structure and a definite chemical composition.

• mineral

• rock

• crystal

• fluorite

Characteristics that can be observed or measured.

• physical properties

• density

• luster

• breakage