CH 3

C

1. Which of the following is a mineral? A. petroleum (oil), which is a liquid B. cubic zirconia, which is a synthetic diamond substitute that is not found in nature C. coal, which was formed from ancient tropical plants D. ice, which is water in the solid state (and water is essential to all organic life on Earth)

B

10. Cleavage in minerals refers to . A. a tendency to break in an irregular pattern B. a tendency to break along planes of weakness C. the sharpness of edges between crystal faces D. the development of distinct crystal faces

A

11. The most abundant minerals belong to a chemical group termed the . A. silicates B. carbonates C. halides D. oxides

C

12. When in contact with hydrochloric acid, which mineral gives off bubbles of carbon dioxide gas? A. quartz B. halite C. calcite D. fluorite

B

13. The silica tetrahedron that forms the backbone of all the silicate minerals is composed of silicon and what other element? A. magnesium B. oxygen C. iron D. carbon

B

14. All minerals are chemical compounds (composed of more than one element). A. True B. False

B

15. With regard to minerals, hardness refers to . A. an ability to resist breaking when being struck with hammer B. an ability to resist being scratched by other substances C. an ability to resist chemical reactions with other substances D. an absence of cleavage

B

16. Topaz, with Mohs hardness of 8, is twice as hard as fluorite, with Mohs hardness of 4. A. True B. False

C

17. Which of the following is NOT a mineral? A. quartz B. diamond C. petroleum D. gold

D

18. The single property that can be used to identify any mineral is . A. color B. luster C. cleavage D. none of the above; multiple properties must be used to diagnose a mineral

D

19. The color of a mineral in powdered form is termed . A. color B. specific gravity C. luster D. streak

A

2. Two distinct minerals may have the same chemical formula. A. True B. False

B

20. Minerals are classified into groups primarily on the basis of . A. chemistry, specifically the cations within the chemical formula B. chemistry, specifically the anions within the chemical formula C. hardness; hard, soft, and medium are the three primary classes D. the number of cleavage directions present

B

3. A single mineral may take on multiple crystalline lattice structures. A. True B. False

C

4. Natural glass is not considered a mineral because it . A. is not produced by geologic processes B. is organic C. does not have fixed crystalline structure D. can be made synthetically as well as being a naturally occurring substance

B

5. Minerals in geodes form spectacular euhedral crystals because . A. all of the elements incorporated in the crystals are in plentiful supply B. the crystals have abundant room to grow in their hollow surroundings C. minerals within geodes are always framework silicates D. minerals within geodes always contain iron

B

6. Diamond and graphite are both polymorphs of pure silicon. A. True B. False

B

7. The most useful diagnostic property of minerals is their color in hand sample. A. True B. False

C

8. For the majority of minerals, the streak color obtained when the mineral is scratched against a porcelain plate is . A. likely to be diagnostic only if the mineral is hard enough to scratch porcelain B. more variable than the color in hand sample among crystals C. less variable than the color hand sample among crystals D. always dark brown or black

C

9. The shininess of a mineral is a helpful diagnostic property termed . A. color B. specific gravity C. luster D. streak