Mineral Identification Quiz

What are the 5 properties used to identify minerals

-Color -Hardness -Break -Streak -Luster

What are the 4 characteristics of minerals?

-found in nature -definite chemical structure -solid -crystalline structure

Which of the following is an example of a mineral? a)calcite b)leaves c)gravel d)sand

a) calcite

What tool would you need to discover whether a mineral has fracture? a. a hammer b. a file c. a grinder d. a harder mineral

a. hammer

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of minerals? a. must be hard to break b. Must be a natural substance c. Has a crystalline structure d. Has a definite chemical makeup

a. must be hard to break

The Moh's scale is most useful for a. Calculating the density of a mineral sample b. Identifying a mineral sample c. Finding the mass of a mineral sample d. Determining how a mineral sample cleaves

b. Identifying a mineral sample

Why do you need to run several tests before you can identify a mineral with 100% certainty? a. minerals all have the same chemical structure b. many minerals share physical properties c. minerals physical properties can change very quickly d. a mineral can only be subjected to a few tests before it degrades

b. many minerals share physical properties

What word describes the material involved in a streak test? a. fractured b. powdered c. scratched d. liquid

b. powdered

Which of the following is a chemical property of a mineral? a. hardness b. luster c. atomic structure d. color

c. atomic structure

Which physical property requires no tools to determine? a. hardness b. fracture c. color d. cleavage

c. color

what can you infer about graphite from the fact that you can scratch it with just your fingernail? a. its not very lustrous b. its streak is black c. its not very hard d. it has fracture

c. its not very hard

A mineral sample sits on a table. Which mineral property could you observe without actually touching the mineral sample? a. density b. atomic structure c.luster d. streak

c. luster

What term best describes the way minerals are identified? a. guesswork b. gimmick c. procedure d. trick

c. procedure

Which mineral is ranked highest on the Moh's scale? a. talc b. calcite c. quartz d. diamond

d. diamond

The hardness of a mineral is closely related to the a. mineral's color b. mineral's abundance in nature c. amount of iron the mineral contains d. internal arrangement of the mineral's atoms.

d. internal arrangement of the mineral's atoms

what property of a mineral indicates that it has cleavage? a. milky-white color b. the ability to be scratched by a steel file c. the fact that is sizzles in the presences of acid d. smooth faces

d. smooth faces

What is the tool used to determine streak of the mineral?

porcelain tile

What is the difference between cleavage and fracture?

Cleavage-mineral breaks along a flat surface fracture-mineral breaks in jagged pieces

What is a streak test?

Used to determine the color of the powder left behind when a mineral is scraped on a surface

The mineral sample can be scratched by a penny, but not by a nail. What is its hardness on the Mohs scale? 1 2 3 4 5 6+

3

A steel file can scratch the mineral sample easily. What is its hardness on the Mohs scale? 1 2 3 4 5 6+

4

What is the name of the scale used to determine hardness?

Moh's scale

What is the name of the property that describes how light reflects off of a mineral?

luster