Introduction to Minerals Quiz

What is the first characteristic that defines a mineral?

• It must be liquid.

• It must be solid.

• It must be gaseous.

• It must be synthetic.

How do minerals form through the cooling of lava?

• By dissolving in water.

• By crystallizing as they cool.

• By evaporating into gas.

• By melting into a liquid.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of minerals?

• They have a crystalline structure.

• They are organic.

• They have a definite chemical composition.

• They are naturally occurring.

What does it mean for a mineral to have a definite chemical composition?

• It is made of various random elements.

• It has a consistent chemical formula throughout.

• It changes composition over time.

• It is composed of living materials.

What are the two major categories of minerals?

• Organic and Inorganic

• Silicate and Nonsilicate

• Metallic and Nonmetallic

• Natural and Synthetic

What elements must a silicate mineral contain?

• Calcium and Sulfur

• Carbon and Hydrogen

• Silicon and Oxygen

• Sodium and Chlorine

Which mineral is an example of a nonsilicate mineral?

• Quartz

• Talc

• Graphite

• Feldspar

What is the main component of talcum powder?

• Talc

• Halite

• Quartz

• Graphite

Which mineral is commonly found in drywall?

• Quartz

• Graphite

• Selenite Gypsum

• Halite

What is the most abundant type of mineral in the Earth's crust?

• Organic minerals

• Nonsilicate minerals

• Silicate minerals

• Synthetic minerals