Pre-Test: Minerals in Earth Science

What is the definition of a mineral?

• A) A solid, naturally occurring, inorganic substance with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.

• B) Any substance that is found on Earth.

• C) A liquid that forms underground.

• D) A type of rock that contains fossils.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a mineral?

• A) Naturally occurring

• B) Organic

• C) Definite chemical composition

• D) Crystalline structure

What is the most common mineral group on Earth?

• Carbonates

• Oxides

• Sulfides

• Silicates

Which property refers to the way a mineral reflects light?

• Hardness

• Cleavage

• Luster

• Streak

The color of a mineral’s powder when rubbed on a streak plate is called:

• Luster

• Cleavage

• Streak

• Fracture

The ability of a mineral to resist being scratched is called:

• Hardness

• Streak

• Density

• Transparency

The Mohs Hardness Scale ranks minerals from:

• 1 (hardest) to 10 (softest)

• 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest)

• 1 (most dense) to 10 (least dense)

• 1 (largest) to 10 (smallest)

A mineral that breaks along smooth, flat surfaces has:

• Cleavage

• Fracture

• Luster

• Hardness

Quartz is an example of a mineral that breaks irregularly, which means it has:

• Cleavage

• Streak

• Fracture

• Luster

Which test would best help distinguish gold from pyrite (“fool’s gold”)?

• Hardness test

• Luster test

• Streak test

• Transparency test