76 Questions
Which characteristic must a mineral have?
It has to be a solid
What is a necessary condition for a substance to be considered a mineral?
Must occur in nature
Which characteristic defines the structure of a mineral?
Specific definable chemical composition
Minerals can occur in any state of matter, not just as a solid.
False
Minerals can have an undefined chemical composition.
False
All minerals have a crystalline structure.
True
What is the composition of salt Halite?
1 atom of Sodium and 1 atom of Chloride
What is the chemical formula of salt Halite?
NaCl
How many atoms are present in a molecule of salt Halite?
2
Salt Halite is composed of 1 atom of Sodium (Na) and 1 atom of Chloride (Cl).
True
Salt Halite is a liquid mineral.
False
Salt Halite has an undefined chemical composition.
False
What is crystallization?
The process of particles dissolved in a liquid solidifying and forming crystals
Where can minerals crystallize from?
Hot or cool solutions
How do all minerals form?
Through crystallization
Crystallization occurs when particles dissolved in a liquid or a melt solidify and form crystals.
True
Minerals can crystallize from either hot or cool solutions.
True
All minerals form through crystallization.
True
Where is magma typically found?
Beneath Earth's surface
What is lava?
Molten rock erupting on or near Earth’s surface
During a volcanic eruption, what is the molten rock called when it reaches the surface?
Lava
True or false: Magma is molten rock stored beneath Earth’s surface.
True
True or false: Lava is when molten rock erupts on or near Earth’s surface.
True
True or false: Magma and lava are the same thing.
False
What does the term 'inorganic' mean?
Derived from non-biological sources
Where do minerals crystallize from?
Cooling solutions
What is the necessary condition for a substance to be considered a mineral?
Naturally occurring
What are the two elements that form silicate?
Silicon and oxygen
What is the chemical composition of silicate?
Silicon and oxygen
What is the chemical composition of silicate?
False
Minerals can occur in any state of matter, not just as a solid.
False
Salt Halite is a liquid mineral.
False
What property of a mineral refers to the color of its powder?
Streak
Which property measures the resistance of a mineral to scratching?
Hardness
What does luster describe in relation to a mineral?
How light interacts with the surface
What property refers to the tendency of a mineral to break along preferred planes of weakness?
Cleavage
Color alone is a reliable indicator of a mineral's identity.
False
To determine the streak of a mineral, you need to crush it against a streak plate.
True
Minerals with metallic luster appear shiny and reflective like metal.
True
The Mohs Hardness Scale ranks minerals from 1 (hardest) to 10 (softest).
False
What does the Mohs scale measure?
Hardness of different minerals
On the Mohs scale, which number represents the softest mineral?
1
What is the highest number on the Mohs scale?
10
What does the Mohs scale measure?
False
The range of Mohs scale is 1 to 10.
True
1 on the Mohs scale represents the softest mineral.
True
What is the hardest mineral according to the Mohs scale?
Diamond
Which mineral ranks as the softest on the Mohs scale?
Talc
What is the chemical composition of salt Halite?
Sodium and Chloride
True or false: Diamond is the hardest mineral?
True
True or false: Talc is the softest mineral?
True
True or false: Quartz is softer than Talc?
False
What does streak refer to in relation to a mineral?
The color of a mineral's powder
What can the difference between a mineral's external color and its streak color provide?
Important clues for identifying minerals
How are color and streak related in minerals?
The color of a mineral's streak can be different from its external color
Mineral streak color can sometimes be different from the external color of the mineral.
True
Color alone is a reliable indicator of a mineral's identity.
False
Streak refers to the color of a mineral's powder.
True
Minerals can have ______ luster or ______ luster
metallic non metallic
Minerals can have metallic luster or non-metallic luster.
True
Luster is directly related to the chemical composition of minerals.
False
Salt Halite is composed of 1 atom of Sodium (Na) and 1 atom of Chloride (Cl).
True
What is the main difference between cleavage and fracture in minerals?
Cleavage occurs along preferred planes, resulting in smooth surfaces; fracture is irregular and random, resulting in rough surfaces
What property of a mineral depends on its internal atomic structure?
Cleavage
Which mineral exhibits cleavage, breaking along perfect rhombohedral cleavage planes?
Calcite
What type of breakage is observed when a mineral lacks cleavage planes or when external forces overcome the strength of the mineral's atomic bonds?
Fracture
Fracture refers to the tendency of a mineral to break along preferred planes, resulting in flat, smooth surfaces.
False
Cleavage is a property that depends on the internal atomic structure of the mineral.
True
Quartz displays fracture, breaking irregularly with rough, jagged surfaces.
True
Calcite exhibits fracture, breaking irregularly with rough, jagged surfaces.
False
Which mineral exhibits fracture, breaking irregularly with rough, jagged surfaces?
Quartz
Which mineral breaks with smooth, flat surfaces (cleavage)?
Calcite
What type of breakage is observed when a mineral lacks cleavage planes or when external forces overcome the strength of the mineral's atomic bonds?
Fracture
Quartz exhibits fracture when it breaks.
True
Calcite breaks with smooth, flat surfaces (cleavage).
True
Minerals always break in the same way, regardless of the type of mineral.
False
Study Notes
Characteristics of Minerals
- A mineral has to be a solid, occur in nature, have a specific and definable chemical composition, a crystalline structure (orderly arrangement of atoms and ions), and be inorganic.
Composition of Salt (Halite)
- Salt (Halite) is composed of 1 atom of Sodium (Na) and 1 atom of Chloride (Cl).
Crystallization
- Crystallization is the process where particles dissolved in a liquid or melt solidify and form crystals, which is how all minerals form, regardless of the environment.
Magma and Lava
- Magma is molten rock stored beneath Earth's surface, while lava is molten rock that erupts on or near Earth's surface.
Silicate Composition
- Silicate is formed from Silicon and Oxygen.
Properties for Identifying Minerals
Color
- Color refers to a mineral's external appearance, but it's not a reliable indicator of a mineral's identity.
Streak
- Streak refers to the color of a mineral's powder, obtained by crushing a small piece of the mineral against a streak plate.
Luster
- Luster describes how light interacts with the surface of a mineral, categorized as metallic or non-metallic.
Hardness
- Hardness measures a mineral's resistance to scratching, ranked on the Mohs Hardness Scale from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).
Cleavage and Fracture
- Cleavage refers to a mineral's tendency to break along preferred planes of weakness, resulting in smooth, flat surfaces.
- Fracture describes irregular and random breakage without preferred planes, resulting in rough and uneven surfaces.
Mohs Scale
- The Mohs Scale measures the hardness of minerals, ranging from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).
Hardest and Softest Minerals
- Diamond is the hardest mineral (Mohs hardness of 10).
- Talc is the softest mineral (Mohs hardness of 1).
Streak vs. Color
- The color of a mineral's streak can differ from its external color, providing important clues for identification.
Luster and Chemical Composition
- Luster is directly related to the chemical composition of minerals, which can have metallic or non-metallic luster.
Cleavage vs. Fracture
- Cleavage refers to breaking along preferred planes, resulting in smooth, flat surfaces.
- Fracture describes irregular and random breakage without preferred planes, resulting in rough and uneven surfaces.
Examples of Minerals
- Quartz exhibits fracture, breaking irregularly with rough, jagged surfaces.
- Calcite exhibits cleavage, breaking along perfect rhombohedral cleavage planes, resulting in smooth, flat surfaces.
Test your knowledge of mineral characteristics with this quiz! Identify the 5 key traits that define a mineral, including its solid state, natural occurrence, chemical composition, crystalline structure, and inorganic nature. See how well you know the fundamental properties of minerals.
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