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