Questions and Answers
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a mineral?
Made from living things
What physical property involves streaking a mineral to see its color?
Color
Which mineral has the highest position on Moh's scale of hardness?
Diamond
What property of minerals refers to their reflection and shine?
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Which scale is used to measure the hardness of minerals?
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Study Notes
Characteristics of a Mineral
- A mineral must be a solid substance.
- A mineral must be naturally occurring.
- A mineral must be inorganic, meaning it is not living and not made from living things.
- A mineral must have a fixed chemical formula, composed of specific elements.
Physical Properties of Minerals
- Crystal Habit: the external shape or form of a mineral, including platey, elongate, or equant shapes.
- Color: the outer appearance of a mineral.
- Streak: the color of the powdered form of a mineral, determined by the streak test.
- Luster: the reflection or shine of a mineral, which can be metallic or non-metallic.
- Hardness: measured on the Mohs scale, with 10 levels of hardness:
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- Talc
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- Gypsum
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- Calcite
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- Apatite
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- Feldspar
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- Quartz
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- Topaz
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- Corundum
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- Diamond
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- Cleavage: the pattern in which a mineral breaks, with a specific pattern for each mineral.
- Specific Gravity: the ratio of a mineral's density to that of water.
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