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How are minerals classified?

Total questions: 39

Worksheet time: 20mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Are natural, nonliving solid crystals that make up rocks

a)

minerals

b)

rocks

c)

hardness

2.

The way the surface of a mineral reflects light is called _________________ .

a)

taste

b)

hardness

c)

luster

3.

How easily the surface of a mineral can be scratched is ________________ .

a)

cleavage

b)

hardness

c)

sedimentary

4.

The color of the powder that a mineral leaves when it is scratched across a special plate is

called ___________________.

a)

streak

b)

fire

c)

luster

5.

Minerals that break in smoothly, flat surfaces have _________________ .

a)

taste

b)

fire

c)

cleavage

6.

Talk is the hardest mineral

a)

true

b)

false

7.

The diamond is the hardest mineral

a)

true

b)

fast

8.

A mineral that is graded with a 10 on the scale because of its hardness is the:

a)

talc

b)

quartz

c)

diamond

9.

To determine the hardness of a mineral, you can use _______ Scale.

a)

Mohs

b)

Moss

c)

Moes

10.

Minerals are identified and sorted by different characteristics. Luster is one way to sort minerals into different types. What is a mineral's luster?

a)

the way that light reflects from its surface

b)

the mineral's elements and their arrangement

c)

the color that it makes when rubbed on a tile

d)

the way that it breaks when you strike it with a wedge

11.

What property of minerals is measured by scratching the surface of the mineral?

a)

magnestism

b)

hardness

c)

color

d)

luster

12.

Sally is trying to identify a mineral. She notes that the mineral can easily break into flat sections. What property has she observed?

a)

hardness

b)

streak

c)

luster

d)

cleavage

13.

Rocks are mostly made of

a)

minerals

b)

lava

c)

fossils

d)

dirt

14.

Mark all the ways minerals can be identified.

a)

vegetables

b)

color

c)

crystal shape

d)

heat

e)

hardness

15.

____________ ranks minerals by it's hardness.

a)

Streak

b)

Cleavage

c)

Luster

d)

Moh's Scale

16.

Scientists identify rocks by all of the following except...

a)

color

b)

luster

c)

hardness

d)

channel

17.

Scientists identify rocks by their color, luster,

hardness, streak, cleavage, and crystal shape.

a)

True

b)

False

18.

A mineral can scratch other minerals with higher rankings.

a)

true

b)

false

c)

sometimes

19.

Crystals are classified by...

a)

shapes they form

b)

angles they form

c)

shapes and angles they form

20.

Which sentence is correct?

a)

Some minerals can be classified by taste.

b)

All minerals can be classified by taste.

c)

No minerals can be classified by taste.

21.

Which sentence is correct?

a)

All minerals can be classified by smell.

b)

Some minerals can be classified by smell.

c)

No minerals can be classified by smell.

22.
Dull, silky, waxy, pearly, and earthy are terms that best describe which property of minerals?
a)
luster
b)
color
c)
streak
d)
cleavage
23.
What mineral can pick up a paperclip because of it's magnetic properties?
a)
galena
b)
graphite
c)
magnetite
d)
hematite
24.
Which mineral property is being shown here?
a)
luster
b)
hardness
c)
cleavage
d)
streak
25.

All around the world, each mineral has the same chemical

a)

true

b)

fast

26.

All around the world, rocks have the same _________________ composition.

a)

chemical

b)

formed

c)

millions

27.

A mineral that is graded with a 10 on the scale because of its hardness is the:

a)

talc

b)

quartz

c)

diamond

28.

Is the following statement true?

Rocks make up minerals.

a)

true

b)

false

29.

There are more than _________ kinds of minerals.

a)

4,000

b)

400

c)

3,000

d)

30

30.

Diamonds are the softest mineral.

a)

true

b)

false

c)

sometimes

31.

A mineral can scratch other minerals with higher rankings.

a)

true

b)

false

c)

sometimes

32.

All rocks are made up of one or more __________________________.

a)

metals

b)

rocks

c)

minerals

d)

animals

33.

A student sorted mineral samples into two groups: dull and shiny. Which of the following properties did the student use to sort the mineral samples into groups?

a)

luster

b)

streak

c)

cleavage

d)

color

34.

Since many minerals have the same ______ , it cannot be the only property used to identify a mineral.

a)

mass

b)

color

c)

magnetism

d)

hardness

35.

Hardness, color, and luster are examples of a mineral’s _____________.

a)

weight

b)

price

c)

health

d)

properties

36.

_____________the color od the powder that a mineral leaves when it is scratched across a special plate.

a)

luster

b)

mineral

c)

streak

37.

_________ the way the surface of a mineral reflects light.

a)

luster

b)

streak

c)

mineral

38.

A geologist is a scientist who studies Earth materials. A geologist wants to test the

streak of a mineral. What should she do?

a)

Rub the mineral sample across a ceramic plate.

b)

View the mineral sample under bright lights.

c)

Place salt on top of the mineral sample.

d)

Use fire to melt the mineral sample.

39.

Jackie describes a mineral sample as metallic and shiny. Which observable property

is Jackie describing?

a)

streak

b)

color

c)

hardness

d)

luster