MINERALS: Characteristics and Physical Properties Quiz

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Minerals are inorganic, meaning they are not made from living things or organic matter.

The color of a mineral's powder when it is scratched on a surface.

Diamond, with a hardness of 10, is the hardest mineral.

Luster describes how light reflects off a mineral's surface (e.g., metallic, glassy).

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Mohs scale measures a mineral's scratch resistance; higher number scratches lower.

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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.

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:
- 1. Talc
- 1. Gypsum
- 1. Calcite
- 1. Apatite
- 1. Feldspar
- 1. Quartz
- 1. Topaz
- 1. Corundum
- 1. Diamond
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.