Wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Chapter 9 Study Guide - Minerals

Total questions: 55

Worksheet time: 28mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is a naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid with a definite chemical composition.

a)

mineral

b)

rock

c)

fossil

d)

metal

2.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is a mineral made of two or more chemical elements combined together.

a)

compound mineral

b)

native element

c)

single crystal

d)

ore

3.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is a mineral made of only one element, such as gold, copper, or sulfur.

a)

native mineral

b)

compound mineral

c)

silicate mineral

d)

carbonate mineral

4.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is two or more substances physically combined but not chemically bonded.

a)

mixture

b)

element

c)

compound

d)

atom

5.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is a mineral containing silicon and oxygen; makes up most of the earth’s crust.

a)

silicate

b)

carbonate

c)

oxide

d)

sulfide

6.

Fill in the blank: A(n) ______ is a mineral made of oxygen and another element, usually a metal.

a)

oxide

b)

sulfide

c)

halide

d)

carbonate

7.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is a mineral made of one or more metals combined with sulfur.

a)

sulfide

b)

oxide

c)

carbonate

d)

silicate

8.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is a mineral containing carbon and oxygen bonded to a metal; common in limestone and cave formations.

a)

carbonate

b)

silicate

c)

oxide

d)

sulfide

9.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is a mineral made from a metal combined with chlorine, fluorine, or another halogen element.

a)

halide

b)

oxide

c)

carbonate

d)

sulfide

10.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is a scientist who studies and identifies minerals and their properties.

a)

mineralogist

b)

geologist

c)

paleontologist

d)

biologist

11.

Fill in the blank: ______ is the way a mineral reflects light from its surface; can be metallic or nonmetallic.

a)

Luster

b)

Streak

c)

Hardness

d)

Cleavage

12.

Fill in the blank: ______ is the color of a mineral’s powder when rubbed on a streak plate.

a)

Streak

b)

Luster

c)

Cleavage

d)

Hardness

13.

Fill in the blank: ______ is a measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched; determined by the Mohs scale.

a)

Hardness

b)

Luster

c)

Cleavage

d)

Streak

14.

Fill in the blank: The ______ is a numbered system (1–10) used to compare mineral hardness.

a)

Mohs scale

b)

Richter scale

c)

Beaufort scale

d)

Fahrenheit scale

15.

Fill in the blank: ______ is the tendency of a mineral to split along smooth, flat surfaces.

a)

Cleavage

b)

Luster

c)

Streak

d)

Hardness

16.

Fill in the blank: ______ is the way a mineral breaks irregularly, producing uneven or curved surfaces.

a)

Fracture

b)

Cleavage

c)

Luster

d)

Streak

17.

Fill in the blank: ______ is the ratio of a mineral’s density to the density of water.

a)

Specific gravity

b)

Hardness

c)

Luster

d)

Cleavage

18.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is a test used to identify minerals by the color they produce when burned.

a)

flame test

b)

hardness test

c)

streak test

d)

acid test

19.

Fill in the blank: An ______ is a test in which acid is used to see if a mineral reacts by fizzing, showing it contains carbonate.

a)

acid test

b)

streak test

c)

hardness test

d)

magnetism test

20.

Fill in the blank: ______ is the ability of some minerals, such as magnetite, to attract iron.

a)

Magnetism

b)

Luster

c)

Cleavage

d)

Hardness

21.

Fill in the blank: ______ is the release of energy from unstable atoms found in certain minerals.

a)

Radioactivity

b)

Photosynthesis

c)

Condensation

d)

Evaporation

22.

Fill in the blank: ______ is the glow some minerals produce when exposed to ultraviolet light.

a)

Luminescence

b)

Diffraction

c)

Refraction

d)

Absorption

23.

Fill in the blank: ______ is the bending of light as it passes through a mineral.

a)

Refraction

b)

Reflection

c)

Diffraction

d)

Absorption

24.

Fill in the blank: A ______ is a surface deposit of valuable minerals that have been washed out of their original rock.

a)

placer deposit

b)

igneous intrusion

c)

vein deposit

d)

residual soil

25.

Fill in the blank: An ______ is a mineral or rock containing enough valuable material to be mined for profit.

a)

ore

b)

sand

c)

clay

d)

pebble

26.

Minerals are solid, naturally occurring substances that have a definite chemical composition and structure.

a)

True

b)

False

27.

Some minerals are pure elements (native minerals), while others are compounds made of multiple elements.

a)

True

b)

False

28.

Mineral properties such as color, streak, luster, hardness, cleavage, and fracture help scientists identify them.

a)

True

b)

False

29.

The Mohs scale compares how hard minerals are based on their ability to scratch each other.

a)

True

b)

False

30.

Minerals are grouped into families such as silicates, oxides, sulfides, carbonates, and halides.

a)

True

b)

False

31.

Special tests like flame tests, acid tests, and magnetism can reveal what elements a mineral contains.

a)

True

b)

False

32.

When minerals are mined for their valuable metals or materials, they are called ores.

a)

True

b)

False

33.

Placer deposits and veins can concentrate valuable minerals like gold and silver.

a)

True

b)

False

34.

From a biblical worldview, God created minerals to be useful and beautiful resources for mankind.

a)

True

b)

False

35.

Christians are called to use minerals wisely, practicing dominion that benefits people and honors creation.

a)

True

b)

False

36.

Which of the following lists the four characteristics a substance must have to be considered a mineral?

a)

Naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, definite chemical composition

b)

Man-made, organic, liquid, variable composition

c)

Naturally occurring, organic, gas, definite chemical composition

d)

Synthetic, inorganic, solid, indefinite composition

37.

The difference between a compound mineral and a native mineral is:

a)

A compound mineral is made of two or more elements, while a native mineral is made of a single element.

b)

A compound mineral is always metallic, while a native mineral is always non-metallic.

c)

A compound mineral is found only in rocks, while a native mineral is found only in soil.

d)

A compound mineral is man-made, while a native mineral is naturally occurring.

38.

Liquid water is not considered a mineral even though ice is because:

a)

liquid water is not a solid, while ice is a solid

b)

liquid water is not naturally occurring

c)

ice is not made of water

d)

liquid water has a different chemical composition than ice

39.

The test that best shows the true color of a mineral is:

a)

streak test

b)

hardness test

c)

luster test

d)

cleavage test

40.

The property of a mineral that describes how light reflects from its surface is called:

a)

luster

b)

hardness

c)

cleavage

d)

streak

41.

The Mohs Scale measures:

a)

the hardness of minerals

b)

the color of minerals

c)

the weight of minerals

d)

the temperature of minerals

42.

A mineral that leaves a white streak and has a hardness of 2 is likely to be:

a)

Gypsum

b)

Quartz

c)

Calcite

d)

Talc

43.

Cleavage and fracture are different in which of the following ways?

a)

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat planes, while fracture is an irregular break.

b)

Cleavage is an irregular break, while fracture is along flat planes.

c)

Cleavage and fracture both refer to the color of a mineral.

d)

Cleavage and fracture both describe how a mineral reacts to acid.

44.

A conchoidal fracture looks like:

a)

a smooth, curved surface similar to the inside of a seashell

b)

a rough, jagged break with sharp edges

c)

a flat, even break along crystal planes

d)

a break with small, granular fragments

45.

The test that uses hydrochloric acid to identify carbonates is:

a)

The limewater test

b)

The flame test

c)

The hydrochloric acid test

d)

The Benedict's test

46.

Some examples of special mineral tests used by mineralogists are:

a)

magnetism, reaction to acid, taste, fluorescence

b)

color, luster, streak, hardness

c)

density, cleavage, fracture, transparency

d)

crystal shape, size, weight, color

47.

An ore is different from a regular mineral because:

a)

An ore contains a valuable substance that can be profitably extracted, while a regular mineral may not.

b)

An ore is always metallic, while a regular mineral is always non-metallic.

c)

An ore is found only on the Earth's surface, while a regular mineral is found underground.

d)

An ore is a man-made material, while a regular mineral is naturally occurring.

48.

The mineral family that makes up about 90% of the earth’s crust is:

a)

Silicates

b)

Carbonates

c)

Oxides

d)

Sulfides

49.

The most common way minerals are obtained from the earth is:

a)

mining

b)

fishing

c)

planting

d)

condensation

50.

Placer deposits are formed by which of the following processes?

a)

The concentration of valuable minerals by mechanical action of water.

b)

The cooling and solidification of magma beneath the Earth's surface.

c)

The accumulation of organic material in swamps and bogs.

d)

The chemical precipitation of minerals from solution.

51.

Native metals such as gold and copper are good electrical conductors because:

a)

they have free electrons that allow easy flow of electricity.

b)

they are always found in pure form in nature.

c)

they do not react with other elements.

d)

they are the most abundant metals on Earth.

52.

Mining shows both wise dominion and potential risk because:

a)

it provides valuable resources but can harm the environment if not managed responsibly.

b)

it always benefits the environment and never causes harm.

c)

it is only risky and has no benefits.

d)

it is unrelated to resource management or environmental impact.

53.

The property of copper that makes it useful for plumbing pipes is:

a)

its resistance to corrosion

b)

its high melting point

c)

its magnetic properties

d)

its transparency

54.

From a Christian worldview, people should use the mineral resources God placed in the earth by:

a)

Using them responsibly as stewards of God's creation.

b)

Exploiting them for personal gain without concern for others.

c)

Ignoring them and leaving them untouched.

d)

Using them only for religious purposes.

55.

Scientists study mineral properties carefully before classifying or using them because:

a)

it helps them identify and use minerals correctly.

b)

it makes minerals look more attractive.

c)

it is required by law for all minerals.

d)

it increases the value of the minerals.