6th grade Science Minerals Quiz

Thursday Due: 4/29/26

what is a mineral

• a naturally occurring solid that forms by inorganic processes

• has a crystal structure

• a definite chemical composition

crystal

• the repeating pattern of a mineral’s particles

crystallization

the process by which atoms are arranged to form a material that has a crystal structure.

What are the 5 characteristics that a mineral MUST have:

1. naturally occurring. formed by inorganic processes NOT made by humans

2. Solid

3. Forms by inorganic processes Not made from living things or once-living materials

4. crystal structure Atoms are arranged in a repeating, organized pattern

5. Definte chemical composition Always made of the same proportions

What are properties used to identify minerals

• color

• streak (color of the powder)

• luster (how it reflects light

• hardness (scratch test, like Mohs scale)

• cleavage and fracture (how it breaks

what are rocks made of?

minerals and sometimes other materials

what are three ways to describe rocks?

1. Composition- the types of minerals a rock contains

2. color- the overall color of the rock

3. texture- the size, shape and arrangement of the rock’s grains or crystals

What are the Mineral Formations

1. Organic minerals- Some minerals form from once-living things Example: Skeltons can form minerals like calcium phosphate

2. Solutions- Minerals form when dissolved substances come out of water. This happens when water evaporates or cools.

3. Crystallization- the process by which atoms form material with a crystal structure. Examples: Salt, Quartz, Calcite

4. Magma

5. Lava

Can some minerals form when magma or lava cools?

YES

Does slow cooling lead to large or small crystals?

LARGE

Does fast cooling lead to small or large crystals?

small

What are the 5 characteristics of minerals

1. naturally occurring

2. solid

3. forms by inorganic processes

4. crystal structure

5. definite chemical composition

What are the 6 properties used to identify minerals

1. color

2. streak

3. luster

4. hardness

5. cleavage

6. density

A mineral is BEST defined

What is a crystal

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

What does “inorganic” mean

What propert descibes how a mineral reflects light?

Luster

What does streak tell you?

the color of a mineral’s powder