Rocks and Minerals

What is a mineral?

• A naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and an ordered internal structure

• Any substance that is found in the ground, including liquids and gases

• A synthetic material created in laboratories for industrial use

• Any organic substance that forms from living organisms

Which of the following mineral characteristics is not always reliable when identifying a mineral?

• Luster

• Streak

• Color

• Hardness

Which of the following best describes Mohs scale?

• A scale that measures the weight of minerals from lightest to heaviest

• A scale that ranks minerals based on their resistance to scratching from softest to hardest

• A scale that measures the temperature at which minerals melt

• A scale that classifies minerals by their color and luster

How are rocks related to minerals?

• Rocks are unrelated to minerals.

• Rocks are needed to form minerals.

• Rocks are building blocks of minerals.

• Minerals and rocks are the same.

How do igneous rocks are formed?

• By the accumulation and cementation of sediments over time.

• By the evaporation of water leaving mineral deposits behind.

• By the alteration of existing rocks due to heat and pressure without melting.

• By the cooling and solidification of molten rock called magma or lava.

How are sedimentary rocks formed?

• By the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of weathered rock fragments and sediments.

• By the crystallization of minerals directly from seawater.

• By intense heat and pressure altering existing rocks deep within the Earth.

• By cooling and solidification of molten magma.

How do metamorphic rocks form?

• By the accumulation and compaction of sediments over time

• By the alteration of existing rocks through heat, pressure, and chemically active fluids without melting

• By cooling and solidification of molten magma at the Earth's surface

• By the rapid cooling of lava during volcanic eruptions