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Mineral Properties and Identification

Total questions: 32

Worksheet time: 31mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

When a mineral breaks along rough, jagged surfaces it's called

a)

fracture

b)

cleavage

c)

hardness

d)

streak

2.

#1 on the Mohs Hardness Scale and also used in baby powder.

a)

halite

b)

talc

c)

graphite

d)

gypsum

3.

The least accurate way to identify a mineral.

a)

color

b)

hardness

c)

streak

d)

density

4.

The measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched.

a)

streak

b)

color

c)

luster

d)

hardness

5.

This mineral is used to preserve and season food. It is the mineral name for salt.

a)

magnetite

b)

graphite

c)

gypsum

d)

halite

6.

This mineral is commonly used in pencil lead.

a)

halite

b)

talc

c)

graphite

d)

sulfur

7.

The way that a mineral reflects light. It can be metallic or non-metallic.

a)

streak

b)

hardness

c)

fracture

d)

luster

8.

The color left by a mineral in its powdered form.

a)

streak

b)

density

c)

hardness

d)

smudge

9.

In order to be classified as a mineral a substance must be

a)

man-made

b)

organic

c)

able to be scratched by a penny

d)

naturally occurring

10.

A solid substance in which the atoms are arranged in an orderly, repeating pattern.

a)

Element

b)

Molecule

c)

Mixture

d)

Mineral

11.
Refer to the Mohs Hardness Scale. A mineral with a hardness of 7 can scratch -
a)
orthoclase feldspar, but cannot scratch talc
b)
calcite, but cannot scratch apatite.
c)
topaz, but cannot scratch fluorite
d)
gypsum, but cannot scratch corundum
12.
What are the two most useful tests when identifying a mineral
a)
streak and color
b)
color and luster
c)
cleavage and fracture
d)

density and hardness

13.

Minerals are formed by cooling magma.

a)

True

b)

False

14.

Minerals may be changed into other minerals due to high pressure and heat.

a)

True

b)

False

15.

Which crystal form does this crystal show?

a)

Orthorhombic

b)

Hexogonal

c)

Rhomohedral

d)

Cubic

16.

The silicate family of minerals has what element in it?

a)

silicon

b)

phosphorus

c)

sulfur

d)

carbon

17.

Which mineral property can be tested with a black light?

a)

cleavage

b)

streak

c)

luster

d)

fluorescence

18.

A scale ranking ten minerals from softest to hardest; used in testing the hardness of minerals

a)

periodic table

b)

mohs hardness scale

c)

fracture scale

d)

richter scale

19.

The mineral group that contain oxygen and a metal

a)

halides

b)

sulfides

c)

carbonates

d)

oxides

20.

minerals that contain silicon and oxygen and usually one or more other elements

a)

silicates

b)

sulfides

c)

oxides

d)

halides

21.

The mineral groups that contain the elements carbon, oxygen, and one or more other metallic elements

a)

carbonates

b)

silicates

c)

halides

d)

oxides

22.

What is the correct formula for density?

a)

d=m/v

b)

d= v/m

c)

m=d/m

d)

none of the above

23.

What are the most common minerals in earth's crust?

a)

Native elements like gold and silicon

b)

Sulfides like gypsum and pyrite

c)

Carbonates like dolomite and calcite

d)

Silicates like quartz and feldspar

24.

A mineral can be formed from which of the following ways?

a)

The cooling of magma or lava

b)

Being made in a lab by scientists

c)

Metamorphism of other rocks

d)

Evaporation of water solutions

25.

Which mineral has cleavage?

a)
b)
c)
d)
26.

Which mineral has fracture?

a)
b)
c)
d)
27.

You rub a mineral on a streak plate and there is no streak, this is because...

a)

the mineral is too soft

b)

the mineral is too dark

c)

the mineral is too hard

d)

the streak plate is too dark

28.

Which mineral do you think you could identify the crystal structure of?

a)
b)
c)
d)
29.

___ is the structure that is based on the number and angle of the faces.

a)

Crystal form

b)

Density

c)

Hardness

d)

Streak

30.

What is the best definition of a mineral?

a)

living, organic, naturally formed substance

b)

non-living, organic substance

c)

solid, organic substance

d)

naturally formed, inorganic, solid

31.

What are the two types of luster?

a)

Metallic and Dull

b)

Nonmetallic and Shiny

c)

Metallic and Nonmetallic

d)

Shiny and Dull

32.

mineral's ability to bubble when acid is dropped on its surface

a)

fluorescence

b)

effervescence

c)

composition

d)

magnetism