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WorksheetsRocks and Minerals
Total questions: 33
Worksheet time: 1hrs 24mins
What are some words that describe texture?
Pick all that apply...
smooth
rough
pretty
bumpy
Which words describe color?
Select all that apply...
white
black
gray
hard
Which words describe luster?
Pick all that apply...
mineral
shiny
dull
Describe the rock...
(select all that apply)
it is green
it is smooth
it is dull
it is shiny
Describe the rock...
(select all that apply...)
smooth
black
dull
bumpy
How light reflects off of a mineral is called the mineral's
luster
streak
cleavage
fracture
If a scientist states that a sample in the lab scored 10 on the "Mohs scale" after a scratch test, what property is she referring to for that mineral?
It's shape.
It's luster.
It's texture.
It's hardness.
If you feel that a mineral is rough or bumpy, you are testing its
Texture
Luster
Hardness
What are the 4 physical properties of minerals that we study in 3rd grade?
Color, Shininess, Smell, Prettiest
Color, Luster, Hardness, Texture
Prettiest, Size, Smell, Hardness
Size, Shape, Color, Luster
Rock X can scratch Rock Y, but Rock Y cannot scratch Rock X. Based on this information, which of these statements is true?
Rock X is smoother than Rock Y.
Rock X is rougher than Rock Y.
Rock X is harder than Rock Y.
Rock X is softer than Rock Y.
Leila wants to identify a mineral sample.
The table shows the hardness scale she uses.
Leila scratches objects in the table with the sample.
The sample can scratch calcite but can itself be scratched by apatite.
What is the sample?
topaz
quartz
fluorite
gypsum
A student was outside rock collecting and found a specimen on the ground. What question should they ask to determine if it is a rock or a mineral?
Is the specimen made of the same material throughout?
How big is the specimen?
How heavy is the specimen?
Is the specimen hard or soft?
The students in Ms. Jackson’s third grade class are observing and classifying minerals.
One group has decided they want to group their minerals by luster. Which question will best help the students classify the minerals?
What color is the mineral?
Can the mineral be scratched?
Is the mineral metallic?
What does the mineral feel like?
A group of students are testing the luster of a mineral to share the results with the rest of the class. Which question would the group of students test to determine the luster of the mineral?
How does the mineral shine when light shines on it?
How many colors are identified in the mineral?
Is the surface of the mineral smooth or rough?
Is the mineral easy or difficult to scratch?
A student is testing attributes of a mineral. Which question would the student ask to
determine the hardness of the mineral?
What does the surface of the mineral feel like?
How much light is reflected off the surface of the mineral?
How difficult it is to scratch a mineral?
What color is the mineral?
A student found a rock in his backyard and wants to figure out whether it is a rock or a mineral. Which is NOT a question that we can ask to identify if the sample is a rock or mineral?
Is it smooth or rough?
How big is it?
Is it all one color?
Is it made of one material?
Seth was given the following clue card to help identify 2 samples as rocks or minerals.
What questions can Seth ask to help determine which sample is a rock?
Does the sample have smooth, flat sides? Is the sample made up of only one material?
Is the sample hard to break? Does the sample have a rough surface?
Is the sample made of more than one type of material? Is the sample dirty?
Does the sample have a rough surface? Is the sample made of more than one type of material?
Chelsea found a rock at recess and wanted to write some notes about the rock! Here is what she wrote in her journal:
Which fact is NOT useful for classifying the rock?
the luster
the hardness
the weight
the color
Bella has two minerals, hematite and magnetite but she’s gotten them mixed up! She has recorded their attributes in the chart.
What question can Bella ask to identify the minerals?
Which mineral is more colorful than the other mineral?
Which mineral will scratch the other mineral?
Which mineral has a rougher texture?
Which mineral has a shinier luster?
The students in Mr. Silver's third grade class are observing and classifying minerals. One group has decided they want to group their minerals by luster. Which question will best help the students classify the minerals?
Is the mineral hard or soft?
Is the mineral smelly>
Id the mineral colorful?
Is the mineral metallic?
How does the mineral shine when the light shines on it?
Explain the difference between a rock and a mineral.
A rock can be made up of minerals but a mineral cannot be made up of rocks.
A mineral can be made up of rocks but a rock cannot be made up of minerals.
Students use the Mohs scale to determine the hardness of minerals. Students are tasked with proving the hardness scale with minerals and objects in their class. Which question will be the BEST for students to ask to test out the hardness of the mineral, talc?
Is the mineral smooth to the touch?
Is the mineral as shiny as other minerals on the chart?
Is the mineral easy to scratch with other minerals provided?
Is the mineral only able to scratch using a diamond?
