Test #
Minerals Test
Matching:
A
Write the letter of the item from the right-hand column that correctly describes or completes
the statement in the left-hand column.
1. When a mineral glows in a different color under ultraviolet light.
A. color
2. When a mineral glows in the dark after ultraviolet light is turned off.
B. hardness
3. This property can be seen when looking through clear calcite.
C. luster
4. The way a mineral reflects light.
D. streak
5. The ability of a mineral to resist being scratched.
E. fluorescence
6. When a mineral breaks along smooth, flat planes.
F. malleability
7. When a mineral breaks unevenly.
G. fracture
8. The ability of a mineral to be hammered flat into a sheet.
H. cleavage
9. The ability of a mineral to bend.
I. ductility
10. How heavy a mineral is for its size, compared to water (uses no units).
J. double refraction
11. A measure of how heavy a mineral is for its size, expressed in g/cm3 or g/mL.
K. density
12. The color of a powdered sample of a mineral.
L. specific gravity
13. Impurities often cause this property to vary in different samples of a mineral.
M. phosphorescence
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the term or phrase that correctly completes each statement.
14. The minerals quartz and corundum both crystallize in which crystal system?
a. rhombohedral
b. cubic
c. orthorhombic
d. hexagonal
e. quasimoto
15. Most, but not all, minerals are
a. solid
b. mixtures
c. compounds
d. elements
e. gems
16. The Mohs scale is used to describe the __ of a mineral.
a. hardness
b. texture
c. color
d. streak
e. mass
17. The mineral quartz can be yellow, brown, red, white, clear, purple, or gray. Its streak is
a. yellow or brown
b. clear or white
c. red or purple
d. gray or yellow
18. A mineral that cleaves in one direction only has __ cleavage.
a. cubic
b. basal
c. rhombohedral
d. unidirectional
e. conchoidal
19. The type of cleavage shown by a mineral is most related to the mineral’s
a. luster
b. hardness
c. density
d. crystal structure
e. streak
20. Which mineral have you most likely eaten?
a. halite
b. sphalerite
c. quartz
d. feldspar
e. pyrite
21. Minerals form when lava
a. heats up
b. dries
c. dissolves
d. evaporates
e. freezes
22. An ore is
a. the gem form of a mineral
b. a mineral mined for profit
c. a smelted mineral d. a refined mineral
23. Minerals form
a. from lava
b. from magma
c. from hot water solutions
d. when water evaporates
e. all of these
24. If a mineral can’t scratch glass and you can’t scratch it with your fingernail, its hardness would most likely
be
a. 2 or 3
b. 4 or 5
c. 6 or 7
d. 8 or 9
e. greenish yellow
25. Which of the following minerals is a silicate? The formula of each mineral is in parentheses.
a. anhydrite (CaSO4)
b. siderite (FeCO3)
c. kyanite (Al2SiO5)
d. covellite (CuS)
e. corundum (Al2O3)
26. Metallic ores
a. contain extractable metals b. have metallic luster c. conduct electricity d. can’t be smelted
27. Magnetite (Fe2O3) and hematite (Fe3O4) are ores of
a. lead
b. iron
c. copper
d. zinc
e. sodium
28. Most diamonds are used for
a. hardness tests
b. jewelry
c. computer chips
d. bribing science teachers
e. cutting and grinding tools
29. The softest mineral on the Mohs scale is
a. diamond
b. gypsum
c. quartz
d. talc
e. feldspar
c. quartz
d. talc
e. feldspar
30. The hardest mineral on the Mohs scale is
a. diamond
b. gypsum
31. A mineral sample that is colorful, reflective, rare and beautiful is called
a. a diamond
b. a gem
c. topaz
d. precious ore
e. a fossil
32. What forms in nature with an orderly arrangement of atoms and flat sides?
a. feldspar
b. a cleavage plane c. a crystal
d. a gemstone
e. compounds
33. Why can’t a streak plate be used to determine the streak of diamond?
a. a streak plate is too hard
b. diamonds don’t have streaks
d. streak plates can be used to determine the streak of diamond
c. a streak plate is too soft
e. none of these
Essays
1. Define the term mineral. Briefly describe each of the parts of the definition so that its clear you know what
they mean. Also, number each of the four parts.
2. Describe 3 ways minerals form.
Bonus
1. Plagioclase ____ is the most common mineral of the Earth’s crust.
2. Which mineral is #6 on the Mohs scale?
Test #
Minerals Test
Matching:
B
Write the letter of the item from the right-hand column that correctly describes or completes
the statement in the left-hand column.
1. When a mineral glows in a different color under ultraviolet light.
A. color
2. When a mineral glows in the dark after ultraviolet light is turned off.
B. hardness
3. This property can be seen when looking through clear calcite.
C. luster
4. The way a mineral reflects light.
D. streak
5. The ability of a mineral to resist being scratched.
E. fluorescence
6. When a mineral breaks along smooth, flat planes.
F. malleability
7. When a mineral breaks unevenly.
G. fracture
8. The ability of a mineral to be hammered flat into a sheet.
H. cleavage
9. The ability of a mineral to bend.
I. ductility
10. How heavy a mineral is for its size, compared to water (uses no units).
J. double refraction
11. A measure of how heavy a mineral is for its size, expressed in g/cm3 or g/mL.
K. density
12. The color of a powdered sample of a mineral.
L. specific gravity
13. Impurities often cause this property to vary in different samples of a mineral .
M. phosphorescence
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the term or phrase that correctly completes each statement.
14. The minerals quartz and corundum both crystallize in which crystal system?
a. rhombohedral
b. cubic
c. orthorhombic
d. hexagonal
e. quasimoto
15. Most, but not all, minerals are
a. solid
b. mixtures
c. compounds
d. elements
e. gems
16. The Mohs scale is used to describe the __ of a mineral.
a. hardness
b. texture
c. color
d. streak
e. mass
17. The mineral quartz can be yellow, brown, red, white, clear, purple, or gray. Its streak is
a. yellow or brown
b. clear or white
c. red or purple
d. gray or yellow
18. A mineral that cleaves in one direction only has __ cleavage.
a. cubic
b. basal
c. rhombohedral
d. unidirectional
e. conchoidal
19. The type of cleavage shown by a mineral is most related to the mineral’s
a. luster
b. hardness
c. density
d. crystal structure
e. streak
20. Which mineral have you most likely eaten?
a. halite
b. sphalerite
c. quartz
d. feldspar
e. pyrite
21. Minerals form when lava
a. heats up
b. dries
c. dissolves
d. evaporates
e. freezes
22. An ore is
a. the gem form of a mineral
b. a mineral mined for profit
c. a smelted mineral d. a refined mineral
23. Minerals form
a. from lava
b. from magma
c. from hot water solutions
d. when water evaporates
e. all of these
24. If a mineral can’t scratch glass and you can’t scratch it with your fingernail, its hardness would most likely
be
a. 2 or 3
b. 4 or 5
c. 6 or 7
d. 8 or 9
e. greenish yellow
25. Which of the following minerals is a silicate? The formula of each mineral is in parentheses.
a. anhydrite (CaSO4)
b. siderite (FeCO3)
c. kyanite (Al2SiO5)
d. covellite (CuS)
e. corundum (Al2O3)
26. Metallic ores
a. contain extractable metals b. have metallic luster c. conduct electricity d. can’t be smelted
27. Magnetite (Fe2O3) and hematite (Fe3O4) are ores of
a. lead
b. iron
c. copper
d. zinc
e. sodium
28. Most diamonds are used for
a. hardness tests
b. jewelry
c. computer chips
d. bribery
e. cutting and grinding tools
29. The softest mineral on the Mohs scale is
a. diamond
b. gypsum
c. quartz
d. talc
e. feldspar
c. quartz
d. talc
e. feldspar
30. The hardest mineral on the Mohs scale is
a. diamond
b. gypsum
31. A mineral sample that is colorful, reflective, rare and beautiful is called
a. a diamond
b. a gem
c. topaz
d. precious ore
e. a fossil
32. What forms in nature with an orderly arrangement of atoms and flat sides?
a. feldspar
b. a cleavage plane c. a crystal
d. a gemstone
e. compounds
33. Why can’t a streak plate be used to determine the streak of diamond?
a. a streak plate is too hard
b. diamonds don’t have streaks
d. streak plates can be used to determine the streak of diamond
c. a streak plate is too soft
e. none of these
Essays
1. Define the term mineral. Briefly describe each of the parts of the definition so that its clear you know what
they mean. Also, number each of the four parts.
2. Describe 3 ways minerals form.
Bonus
1. Limestone and marble are made of mostly what mineral?
2. Which mineral is #3 on the Mohs scale?
Minerals Test (part 1)
Matching:
Name: ____________________________________
Write the letter of the item from the right-hand column that correctly describes or completes
the statement in the left-hand column.
___ 1. when a mineral glows in a different color under ultraviolet light
A. color
___ 2. when a mineral glows in the dark after ultraviolet light is turned off
B. hardness
___ 3. this property can be seen when looking through clear calcite
C. luster
___ 4. the way a mineral reflects light
D. streak
___ 5. the ability of a mineral to resist being scratched
E. fluorescence
___ 6. when a mineral breaks along smooth, flat planes
F. malleability
___ 7. when a mineral breaks unevenly
G. fracture
___ 8. the ability of a mineral to be hammered flat into a sheet
H. cleavage
___ 9. the ability of a mineral to bend
I. ductility
___ 10. how heavy a mineral is for its size, compared to water (uses no units)
J. double refraction
___ 11. a measure of how heavy a mineral is for its size, expressed in g/cm3 or g/mL
K. density
___ 12. the color of a powdered sample of a mineral
L. specific gravity
___ 13. impurities often cause this property to vary in different samples of a mineral
M. phosphorescence
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the term or phrase that correctly completes each statement.
___ 14. The minerals quartz and corundum both crystallize in which crystal system?
a. rhombohedral
b. cubic
c. orthorhombic
d. hexagonal
e. quasimoto
___ 15. Most, but not all, minerals are
a. solid
b. mixtures
c. compounds
d. elements
___ 16. The Mohs scale is used to describe the __ of a mineral.
a. hardness
b. texture
c. color
d. streak
e. gems
e. mass
___ 17. The mineral quartz can be yellow, brown, red, white, clear, purple, or gray. Its streak is
a. yellow or brown b. clear or white
c. red or purple
d. gray or chartreuse
___ 18. A mineral that cleaves in one direction only has __ cleavage.
a. cubic
b. basal
c. rhombohedral
d. unidirectional
e. conchoidal
___ 19. The type of cleavage shown by a mineral is most related to the mineral’s
a. luster
b. hardness
c. density
d. crystal structure
e. streak
___ 20. Which mineral have you most likely eaten?
a. halite
b. sphalerite
c. quartz
d. feldspar
___ 21. Minerals form when lava
a. heats up
b. dries
c. dissolves
___ 22. An ore is
a. the gem form of a mineral
___ 23. Minerals form
a. from lava b. from magma
d. evaporates
b. a mineral mined for profit
c. from hot water solutions
e. pyrite
e. freezes
c. a smelted mineral d. a refined mineral
d. when water evaporates
e. all of these
Minerals Test (part 2)
Name: ____________________________________
Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the term or phrase that correctly completes each statement.
___ 24. If a mineral can’t scratch glass and you can’t scratch it with your fingernail, its hardness would most
likely be
a. 2 or 3
b. 4 or 5
c. 6 or 7
d. 8 or 9
e. greenish yellow
___ 25. Which of the following minerals is a silicate? The formula of each mineral is in parentheses.
a. anhydrite (CaSO4)
b. siderite (FeCO3)
c. kyanite (Al2SiO5)
d. covellite (CuS)
e. corundum (Al2O3)
___ 26. Metallic ores
a. contain extractable metals b. have metallic luster c. conduct electricity d. can’t be smelted
___ 27. Magnetite (Fe2O3) and hematite (Fe3O4) are ores of
a. lead
b. iron
c. copper
d. zinc
___ 28. Most diamonds are used for
a. hardness tests
b. jewelry
c. computer chips
e. sodium
d. bribery
e. cutting and grinding tools
___ 29. The softest mineral on the Mohs scale is
a. diamond
b. gypsum
c. quartz
d. talc
e. feldspar
___ 30. The hardest mineral on the Mohs scale is
a. diamond
b. gypsum
c. quartz
d. talc
e. feldspar
___ 31. A mineral sample that is colorful, reflective, rare and beautiful is called
a. a diamond
b. a gem
c. topaz
d. precious ore
e. a fossil
___ 32. What forms in nature with an orderly arrangement of atoms and flat sides?
a. feldspar
b. a cleavage plane c. a crystal
d. a gemstone
e. compounds
___ 33. Why can’t a streak plate be used to determine the streak of diamond?
a. a streak plate is too hard
b. diamonds don’t have streaks
d. streak plates can be used to determine the streak of diamond
c. a streak plate is too soft
e. none of these
Essays
1. Define the term mineral. Briefly describe each of the parts of the definition so that its clear you know what
they mean. Also, number each of the four parts.
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2. Describe 3 ways minerals form.
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Bonus
______________________ 1. Limestone and marble are made of mostly what mineral?
______________________ 2. Which mineral is #3 on the Mohs scale?