Earth Materials, Rocks, & Minerals

Which property is most useful in identifying a mineral?

Hardness

Which mineral property describes how light reflects from a surface?

Luster

A mineral scratches glass. What does this indicate about the mineral?

It has a hardness greater than 5.5

Which test is used to determine a mineral’s streak?

Rubbing it on an unglazed tile

Which statement best describes a mineral?

A naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite composition.

Which rock forms from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava?

Igneous

Granite is an igneous rock with large crystals. This indicates it:

Cooled slowly beneath earths surface.

Which process changes sediments into sedimentary rock?

Compaction and cementation

Marble forms when limestone is subjected to:

Heat and pressure

Which rocky type is most likely to contain fossils?

Sedimentary

Which process breaks rock into smaller pieces without changing composition?

Mechanical weathering

Which agent of erosion is responsible for sand dunes?

Wind

Soil is mainly formed by the interaction of:

Weathered rock and organic matter

Which soil layer contains the most organic material?

Topsoil

Which mineral would be most useful in making electrical wiring?

Copper

Plant roots breaking apart rock is an example of:

Mechanical weathering