Mineral Identification and Properties Quiz

silicates

Mineral group composed of tetrahedrons.

streak

The color of a mineral when powdered.

sedimentary rocks

Rocks that form at or near Earth's surface by the cementing of grains or precipitation from water.

Mohs hardness scale

A scale that ranks minerals based on their hardness.

ion

A building block of matter that has either a positive or negative charge.

glass

Not considered a mineral because it does not have a crystal structure.

silicate group

The most abundant mineral group in Earth's crust and mantle.

metallic bond

Type of bond expected to be found in gold.

igneous rock

Type of rock that forms by solidification of molten rock.

quartz

A mineral that can appear as a clear to opaque white crystal stone. reacts to hydrochloric acid.

pyrite

A mineral represented by the formula FeS2. Pyrite has nonmetallic luster and two planes of cleavage. Pyrite has one plane of cleavage and is magnetic. Pyrite has a golden streak and a cubic crystal habit. Pyrite has metallic luster and a cubic crystal habit.

Luster

Luster refers to the way the mineral scatters light.

Crystal Habit

Crystal habit is the shape that euhedral crystals take during unencumbered growth.

Mineral

Of the choices, only salt (halite) is a mineral.

Softest Mineral

Talc is the softest common mineral.

Streak Color

The streak color obtained when the mineral is scratched against a porcelain plate is only useful if the mineral is softer than porcelain.

Natural Glass

Natural glass is NOT considered a mineral because it does not have a fixed crystalline structure.

Potassium Feldspar

Potassium feldspar (KAlSi3O8) is in the silicates mineral class.

Minerals

Not all minerals are compounds of more than one element. Minerals are all naturally occurring solid substances with a definable chemical composition.

Table Salt

Halite is more commonly known as table salt.

Non-Mineral

Petroleum is NOT a mineral.

Silicate Mineral

Olivine is a silicate mineral.

Conductive Minerals

Native metals are highly conductive because of metallic bonding.

Mohs Hardness Scale

Diamonds are more than seven times as hard as quartz.

Mineral Class

The mineral class that makes up more than 95% of rocks in the continental crust is termed the silicates.

metallic elements

Elements such as iron, calcium, or magnesium.

vitreous luster

A nonmetallic, vitreous luster.

fixed crystalline structure

Spatial arrangement of atoms and ions.

streak

The color of a mineral in powdered form.

cleavage in minerals

A tendency to break along planes of weakness.

trace amounts of impurity

Can commonly produce significant differences in color among individual crystals of this mineral.

Calcite (CaCO3)

Belongs to the carbonate mineral class.

hardness in minerals

Refers to the ability to resist being scratched.

calcite

The mineral that reacts with hydrochloric acid.

olivine

Belongs to the silicate mineral class.

Pyrite (FeS2)

Belongs to the sulfide mineral class.

tetrahedral structure

Forms the backbone of all silicate minerals and is composed of silicon and oxygen.

halides

The class of minerals that includes a substance commonly known as table salt.

cubic zirconia

Is manmade and therefore not considered a mineral.

cleavage

Refers to the manner in which minerals break along atomic planes.

fracture

Refers to breaking in minerals that is random (or nonplanar).

color in minerals

Can be useful for identifying some minerals but not others, as some minerals have consistent colors while others do not.

Earth's building blocks

Minerals are referred to as such because Earth is composed of many different types of rocks, which are made of a mixture of minerals.