Exploring the Properties of Minerals

What is a mineral?

• A solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence

• A solid organic substance of natural occurrence

• A liquid inorganic substance of natural occurrence

• A gas inorganic substance of natural occurrence

Which mineral is known as Fool's Gold?

• Diamond

• Pyrite

• Turquoise

• Quartz

What does the Mohs scale measure?

• Cleavage

• Luster

• Color

• Hardness

Which mineral is the hardest according to the Mohs scale?

• Pyrite

• Diamond

• Quartz

• Talc

What is the term for the way a mineral reflects light?

• Streak

• Cleavage

• Luster

• Hardness

Which type of luster looks like glass?

• Metallic

• Greasy

• Vitreous

• Pearly

What is the color of a mineral in its powdered form called?

• Cleavage

• Luster

• Hardness

• Streak

Why is color not the best way to identify a mineral?

• Color is not a property of minerals

• Color is too subjective

• Minerals can exist in different colors

• Color changes over time

What is cleavage in minerals?

• The color of a mineral in its powdered form

• The way a mineral reflects light

• The tendency of a mineral to split along flat surfaces

• The hardness of a mineral

What is the term for a mineral breaking in an irregular way?

• Fracture

• Luster

• Streak

• Cleavage