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1 Minerals: Building blocks of rocks

Total questions: 19

Worksheet time: 14mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

These are the building blocks of rocks. Scientists have discovered over 4,000 of these.

a)

rocks

b)

minerals

c)

coal

d)

igneous

2.

This 'optical feature' of a mineral SHOULD NOT be used as a sole/only indicator for what a mineral is.

a)

Color

b)

Crystal form

c)

Streak

d)

Hardness

3.

By definition, a mineral has which of the following characteristic(s)?

a)

definite chemical composition

b)

crystal structure

c)

naturally occurring organic solid

d)

all of the above

4.

Scientists determine the hardness of minerals by using the _________________.

a)

streak test

b)

cleavage/fracture

c)

Lohrs scale

d)

Mohs scale

5.

______________ is the tendency of a mineral to split along specific planes of weakness to form smooth, flat surfaces.

a)

cleavage

b)

elements

c)

fracture

d)

erosion

6.

The color of the powdered form of a mineral is its...

a)

luster

b)

hardness

c)

color

d)

streak

7.
What property of rock is being observed when looking for what color is left after scratching it on a ceramic plate?
a)
hardness
b)
color
c)
cleavage
d)
streak
8.

The property of hardness is being observed when the mineral Calcite has a hardness of 3.5 and Quartz has a hardness of 7.


Based on Moh's Scales of Hardness: Which mineral can scratch another mineral that has a hardness of 5.4?

a)

Calcite

b)

Quartz

c)

neither rock

d)

both rocks

9.

Hardness is how easily a mineral can be scratched

a)

true

b)

false

10.

Mohs' Scale shows the hardness of minerals. A diamond is the softest mineral and talc is the hardest.

a)

true

b)

false

11.

If a mineral reacts with acid it can

a)

bubble and fizz (called effervescence)

b)

create a new mineral

c)

turn a new color

d)

explode due to a violent chemical reaction

12.
What mineral is salt?
a)
quartz
b)
sulfur
c)
halite
d)
calcite
13.
What mineral is used for pencils?
a)
Graphite
b)
Galena
c)
Magnetite
d)
Quartz
14.
What mineral is this?
a)
Graphite
b)
Sulfur
c)
Quartz
15.
What mineral is aka as "Fool's Gold"? ?
a)
galena
b)
halite
c)
pyrite
16.
Look carefully at the picture.  A student is scraping a mineral with her finger, a penny, a knife, a steel file and a glass plate.  What property of the mineral is the student trying to find?
a)
hardness
b)
streak
17.
What two minerals cannot be scratched by a masonry drill bit?
a)
topaz and quartz
b)
diamond and corundum
c)
gypsum and talc
d)
fluorite and apatite
18.
Apatite can scratch fluorite but can be scratched by orthoclase.  Put the three minerals in order from softest to hardest.
a)
Fluorite, apatite, orthoclase
b)
orthoclase, apatite, fluorite
c)
apatite, orthoclase, flourite
d)
Mrs. B can't spell flourite
19.
If you want to differentiate between calcite and fluorite you need to use a tool with a hardness between calcite and fluorite.  Calcite has a hardness of 3 and fluorite has a hardness of 4.  What tool has a hardness between 3 and 4 so you could use it to find the difference?
a)
fingernail
b)
penny
c)
glass plate
d)
steel file