Minerals Review

Calcite is the dominant mineral in the rock limestone. What group does it belong?

carbonates

What characteristics is used for classifying minerals into individual groups?

chemical composition

What term refers to the regular, geometric shapes that occur in many minerals?

crystal

Which property causes the mineral galena to break into tiny cubes?

crystal structure

What is the hardest mineral?

diamond

Minerals that break randomly exhibit?

fracture

The ___________________________________ test determines what materials a mineral will scratch.

hardness

Dull, silky, waxy, pearly, and earthy are terms best describes which property of minerals?

luster

What is a naturally occurring, solid, inorganic compound or element?

mineral

For mineral to be considered a ore ___________________________________.

must generate a profit

What is the term for minerals containing silicon and oxygen?

silicate

What group of minerals is composed mainly of tetrahedra?

silicates

What is the second most abundant element in earth's crust?

silicon

What is the main factor that determines the formation of minerals?

temperature of magma

Why are rubies and sapphires, which are both corundum, different colors?

they have trace elements