Name ________________________________________
Date ________________________
Block ____
Warm-up: Mineral Identification
Match the terms in Column I with the phrases in Column II. Write the letter of the correct phrases in
the blank on the left.
Column I
Column II
_____ 1. Cleavage
A. The measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched
_____2. Diamond
B. Name given to the Scale of Hardness
_____3. Fracture
C. One of the softest known minerals
_____4. Hardness
D. The hardest known mineral
_____5. Mica
E. Reflection of light from a mineral’s surface
_____6. Luster
F. Color left by powered mineral on unglazed porcelain
_____7. Mohs
G. Tendency of a mineral to break along smooth, flat surfaces
_____8. Quartz
H. A rock-forming mineral that breaks along one smooth surface
_____9. Streak
I. Tendency of a mineral to break with rough or jagged edges
_____10. Talc
J. A rock-forming mineral that breaks with rough or jagged edges
Write True if the statement is true and False if the statement is false.
________________11. The physical properties of a mineral make it possible to identify the mineral.
________________12. Any mineral can be identified by a careful check of one physical characteristic.
________________13. Hardness is a measure of how easily a mineral can be located.
________________14. Quartz will scratch a copper penny, so quartz is harder than the penny.
________________15. The luster of a mineral is described as metallic or nonmetallic.