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Worksheets

Rocks and Minerals

Total questions: 18

Worksheet time: 36mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which property can BEST be used to identify a type of mineral?

a)

Hardness

b)

Size

c)

Mass

d)

Temperature

2.

Casey’s science teacher gave her a sample of copper and silver. What will BEST help her identify which is copper and which is silver?

a)

color and luster

b)

where they are found

c)

type of rock they come from

d)

temperature

3.

Color is often the first attribute of a mineral that is noticed. Which explains why this property is the most inaccurate method for identifying minerals?

a)

It depends on the amount of sunlight reflected.

b)

Clay changes the color.

c)

It depends on the amount of oxygen the mineral was exposed to.

d)

Many minerals have the same color.

4.

What is being tested here?

a)

hardness

b)

streak color

c)

weight

d)

shape

5.

The mineral fluorite has a hardness of 4. Which materials could fluorite scratch?

a)

a penny and apatite

b)

apatite and diamond

c)

diamond and talc

d)

talc and a penny

6.

Where on Earth do rocks melt?

a)

deep inside the Earth

b)

on the ocean floor

c)

in hot, tropical areas

d)

on sunny temperatures

7.

Which is true of all rocks?

a)

they are all strong

b)

they are made up of minerals

c)

they are used to make buildings

d)

they are easily scratched

8.

A ______ is the same all the way through.

a)

mountain

b)

rock

c)

beach

d)

mineral

9.

Which of these would be LEAST helpful when trying to identify a mineral?

a)

luster

b)

hardness

c)

color

d)

streak

10.

Which mineral is hardest?

a)

quartz

b)

salt

c)

diamond

d)

gold

11.

Which two minerals from the chart above would MOST LIKELY scratch glass?

Hint: Glass is a 5.5

a)

galena and quartz

b)

galena and talc

c)

quartz and garnet

d)

talc and garnet

12.

Which test is used to show the color of minerals found in certain rocks?

a)

streak test

b)

smell test

c)

shininess test

d)

scratch test

13.

What does this scale help you know about a penny?

a)

A penny is not heavy.

b)

A penny is brown and shiny.

c)

A penny is softer than most minerals.

d)

A penny is harder than most minerals.

14.

Why is quartz a mineral?

a)

It is solid and has never been alive.

b)

You can find it anywhere.

c)

It is used to make glass.

d)

It is made of rocks.

15.

How are rocks related to minerals?

a)

Minerals are living parts of rocks.

b)

Rocks and minerals are the same.

c)

Rocks are made of minerals.

d)

Minerals contain rocks.

16.

Why is halite a mineral?

a)

It is artificial.

b)

It has a flavor.

c)

It is hard and has no color.

d)

It is solid and is not living.

17.

Peter had two minerals that looked a lot alike. They were the same color and texture. What property would help Peter figure out if the two minerals are the same?

a)

size

b)

hardness

c)

shape

d)

weight

18.

A copper penny has a hardness of 3.5. Which mineral is softer than copper?

a)

quartz

b)

fluorite

c)

calcite

d)

topaz