Physical Geology Chapter 5 Practice Quiz

SiO44-, S2-, and CO32- are all examples of

anions

Which of the following minerals is more commonly known as table salt?

halite

Which of the following is a mineral?

ice, which is water in the solid state

The mineral class that makes up more than 95 percent of the continental crust is termed the

silicates

Which of the following is NOT true about minerals?

All minerals are compounds of more than one element

Using the Mohs hardness scale below, which of the following statements is false?

Diamonds are twice as hard as apatite

Which of the following is the most important characteristic used to identify minerals?

Multiple properties must be used to identify a mineral.

Hardness refers to a mineral's ability to resist

being scratched

Minerals can crystallize in all of the following ways EXCEPT

bonding carbon to oxygen atoms to form organic compounds

Minerals are grouped into mineral classes primarily on the basis of

chemistry, specifically the anions within the chemical formula

The tendency for minerals to break along distinct planar surfaces that have a specific orientation in relation to the crystal structure is called

cleavage

The image below shows a mineral specimen of quartz. What is the term for the smoothly curving, clamshell-shaped surface on the sample?

conchoidal fracture

Naturally forming glass (such as obsidian) is NOT considered a mineral because it

does not have a fixed crystalline structure

The diamonds we typically see today in engagement rings do not display their natural crystal faces but rather ________, which are made by grinding the gem on a spinning lap.

facets

The way a mineral scatters light is a diagnostic property termed

luster

The atomic number of an element corresponds to the

number of protons

When a solution becomes oversaturated, new solid particles are said to

precipitate from the solution

Which of the following common minerals is hardest?

quartz