Elements of Earth Science Lab: Chapter 1 Quiz

Why is color not the best identifying characteristic for a mineral?

Impurities in the mineral can cause color changes.

Having 3 planes of cleavage is an identifying property of which mineral(s)? a. Galena b. Calcite c. Halite d. All of the above

a. Galena

Which sample will have 2 planes of cleavage at 90°? a. Sample I b. Sample J c. Sample K d. Sample B

a. Sample I

Which sample affects the movement of a compass needle? a. Sample L b. Sample J c. Sample K d. Sample B

a. Sample L

All magnetic minerals will have the element iron in their chemical composition. a. True b. False

a. True

Biotite and muscovite have 1 plane of cleavage in common. a. True b. False

a. True

Halite has three plans of cleavage at 90°. a. True b. False

a. True

The mineral talc is 1 on Mohs scale of hardness and has a soapy feel to it. a. True b. False

a. True

The specific gravity of the mineral is estimated by moving the mineral from hand to hand. a. True b. False

a. True

The minerals dolomite and calcite are best distinguished from one another by ____________. a. an acid test b. cleavage c. color d. crystal shape

a. an acid test

Metallic minerals are all ____________. a. opaque c. waxy c. dull d. resinous

a. opaque

The tool used to determine the color of the powder of mineral is a ____________. a. streak plate b. glass plate c. compass d. bottle of weak acid

a. streak plate

The mineral quartz is ____________. a. the most abundant mineral in the earth's crust b. metallic c. scratched by a nail d. harder than a diamond

a. the most abundant mineral in the earth's crust

Crystal shape refers to how a mineral breaks. a. True b. False

b. False

The fingernail can scratch the mineral calcite. a. True b. False

b. False

The gas released when weak acid reacts with calcite is oxygen. a. True b. False

b. False

The largest commercial use of the mineral halite is table salt. a. True b. False

b. False

The mineral scale of hardness was named after the famous scientist Von Verner. a. True b. False

b. False

Which is true of Sample E? a. It cannot be scratched with a fingernail. b. It can be scratched with a fingernail. c. It can scratch glass. d. It is magnetic.

b. It can be scratched with a fingernail.

Which sample exhibits fracture? a. Sample J b. Sample B c. Sample D d. Sample H

b. Sample B

Samples J and C both have ____________. a. 3 planes of cleavage b. a pearly luster c. a heavy specific gravity d. a metallic luster

b. a pearly luster

Any object with a specific gravity of less than 1 will ____________. a. sink b. float c. turn color d. exhibit fracture

b. float

All magnetic minerals are also ____________. a. nonmetallic b. metallic c. vitreous d. dull

b. metallic

A naturally occurring inorganic substance with a definite chemical composition is a ____________. a. rock b. mineral c. table salt d. charcoal

b. mineral

Which mineral is metallic? a. Calcite b. Quartz c. Hematite d. Fluorite

c. Hematite

The crystal form of Sample H is the same as that of ____________. a. Sample I b. Sample J c. Sample K d. Sample B

c. Sample K

Which is true of Samples G and L? a. Their specific gravity is very light. b. They have a nonmetallic luster. c. They have a metallic luster. d. They effervesce with weak acid.

c. They have a metallic luster.

If a mineral is permitted to grow unhindered during its formation, the resulting shape will always be its ____________. a. cleavage b. fracture c. crystal form d. b and c

c. crystal form

The way light reflects off a mineral's surface is referred to as its ____________. a. hardness b. texture c. luster d. streak

c. luster

Quartz can scratch all of the following except ____________. a. glass b. calcite c. topaz d. nail

c. topaz

The cubic shape identifies a mineral that has ____________. a. 3 planes of cleavage b. cleavage planes intersecting at 90° c. an absence of fracture surfaces d. All of the above

d. All of the above

Which sample has 1 plane of cleavage? a. Sample A b. Sample C c. Sample J d. Both b and c

d. Both b and c

A unique property of what mineral is double refraction? a. Dolomite b. Pyrite c. Augite d. Calcite

d. Calcite

All of the following are minerals except which? ____________. a. Gold b. Silver c. Quartz d. Coal

d. Coal

Which sample effervesces with acid? a. Sample A b. Sample L c. Sample I d. Sample D

d. Sample D

The following statements are true of all metallic minerals except which? a. They have a dark streak. b. They are opaque. c. They contain a metal. d. They evidence the property of magnetism.

d. They evidence the property of magnetism.

A mineral that can scratch a nail but that cannot scratch glass is ____________. a. calcite b. quartz c. gypsum d. apatite

d. apatite

The cleavage of Sample K is ____________. a. 3 planes at 90° b. 3 planes not at 90° c. 1 plane of cleavage d. conchoidal fracture

d. conchoidal fracture

Gold settles to the bottom of a miner's pan because of its a. color b. cleavage c. crystal shape d. high specific gravity

d. high specific gravity

All the following properties of minerals are used for identification except ____________. a. streak b. luster c. hardness d. melting point

d. melting point

Minerals that have the element ____________ in their chemical composition may have an odor akin to that of rotten eggs. a. silicon b. sodium c. chlorine d. sulfur

d. sulfur