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Minerals

Total questions: 35

Worksheet time: 1hrs 6mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a mineral?

a)

Solid

b)

Inorganic

c)

Smell

d)

Formed in Nature

2.

Which of the following would be the best description of the mineral property called luster?

a)

A minerals resistance to being scratched.

b)

The color a mineral gives off.

c)

How a mineral reflects light.

d)

Observing the color of the powder left behind when scraping across a surface.

3.

The atoms within a mineral are arranged in an orderly, repeating three-dimensional pattern. Which of the characteristics of minerals does this statement describe?

a)

Solid          

b)

Inorganic

c)

Crystal Structure

d)

Made In Nature

4.

My teacher mentioned that in order for a substance to be a mineral, it has to be _____ or nonliving.

a)

Inorganic   

b)

Organic

c)

Mixture

d)

Liquid

5.

In the lab, a student wants to identify two different minerals. So, she takes them and scrapes them across a plate to see the color of the powder they leave behind. What property of minerals is she testing?

a)

Color   

b)

Hardness

c)

Luster

d)

Streak

6.

A measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching. This is measured by scratching it against another substance of known hardness on the Mohs Hardness Scale.

a)

Color     

b)

Hardness

c)

Luster

d)

Streak

7.

Which statement is the best example of the mineral property of cleavage?  

a)

The mineral broke and had jagged edges.     

b)

The mineral broke and had flat edges.

c)

  Minerals never break

d)

All are correct

8.

The breaking of a mineral unevenly in many directions is called

a)

fracture

b)

cleavage

c)

structure

d)

luster

9.
A mineral is a _______________, naturally occuring solid that has its own regular arrangement of particles in it.
a)
Living
b)
Nonliving
c)
Rock
d)
Small
10.
The hardest mineral is the ______________.
a)
Diamond
b)
Corundum
c)
Topaz
d)
Calcite
11.
____________ describes how a mineral's surface reflects light.
a)
Hardness 
b)
Luster
c)
Color
d)
Streak
12.
________________ is the color of a mineral in its powdered form.
a)
Streak
b)
Shape
c)
Magnetism
d)
Luster
13.
The property of splitting easily along flat surfaces
a)
fracture
b)
hardness
c)
cleavage
d)
streak
14.
How a mineral splits apart when it does not break evenly:
a)
streak
b)
hardness
c)
cleavage
d)
fracture
15.
A ranking of a minerals from softest to hardest
a)
streak test
b)
luster test
c)
Mohs hardness scale
d)
fracture
16.
The softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness scale
a)
Gypsum
b)
Talc
c)
Diamond
d)
Feldspar
17.

Which one is not a property used to identify minerals?

a)

streak

b)

luster

c)

hardness

d)

size

18.

Describe the breakage and luster of this mineral.

a)

Cleavage/Non-metallic

b)

Fracture/Non-Metallic

c)

Cleavage/Metallic

d)

Fracture/Metallic

19.

defined as a naturally –occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and ordered internal structure.

a)

Minerals

b)

Crystals

c)

Rocks

d)

Magma

20.

Which of the following is NOT COMMON AMONG MINERALS

I. All are formed by natural processes.

II. All are alive

III. Have definite volume or shape.

IV. They are made up of particles that are arranged pattern that is repeated over and over

V. All are not alive and will never be alive

a)

IV

b)

I

c)

II

d)

III

e)

V

21.

All liquids and gases, even those that are naturally formed, are not considered minerals because they are not...what?

a)

Ordered internal structure

b)

Inorganic

c)

Definite chemical composition

d)

Naturally

e)

Solid

22.

What are 3 properties that help a geologist identify a mineral?

a)

smell, size, texture

b)

location, taste, streak color

c)

hardness luster, streak color

23.

Scientists use mineral ________________ to identify and classify minerals.

a)

pieces

b)

names

c)

properties

d)

structures

24.
Dull, silky, waxy, pearly, and earthy are terms that best describe which property of minerals?
a)
luster
b)
color
c)
streak
d)
cleavage
25.
What is the LEAST useful way to identify a mineral?
a)
luster
b)
streak
c)
color
d)
density
26.

According to Mohs Hardness Scale, what mineral can scratch corundum?

a)

Talc

b)

Topaz

c)

Diamond

d)

Masonry Drill Bit

27.

According to Mohs Hardness Scale, what mineral can scratch apatite but not quartz?

a)

Talc

b)

Topaz

c)

Diamond

d)

Orthoclase

28.

Which of the following is NOT an example of how minerals form?

a)

Cooling solution

b)

Evaporation of a solution

c)

Cooling magma or lava

d)

Dead plants or animals

29.

Rocks are made out of __________________.

a)

particles

b)

minerals

c)

molecules

d)

cells

30.

Which of the following minerals has a metallic luster, a black streak, and could scratch Gold?

a)

Magnetite

b)

Graphite

c)

Galena

d)

Hematite

31.

Which mineral could Fluorite scratch?

a)

Diamond

b)

Calcite

c)

Quartz

d)

Apatite

32.

Which mineral could Quartz not scratch?

a)

Corundum

b)

Talc

c)

Feldspar

d)

Calcite

33.

Which of the following minerals can Apatite scratch? Select all that apply.

a)

Gypsum

b)

Fluorite

c)

Calcite

d)

Diamond

34.

A student is trying to identify a mineral in science class. What property of the mineral is the student testing?

a)

Cleavage

b)

Color

c)

Luster

d)

Streak

35.

Is a fossil considered a mineral?

a)

Yes, because it is a solid.

b)

No, because it is made of the remains of living things.

c)

Yes, because it has a definite chemical composition.

d)

No, because it is not naturally formed.