Answer Key
MINERAL STUDY GUIDE
1-5. If the MINERAL KIT is available to you, answer the following questions:
1. Mineral #1 is Calcite. Does this mineral exhibit Fracture or Cleavage? Explain
Ex 1
6
7
12 13
2
8
14
3
9
15
4
10
16
5
11
17
Cleavage because it breaks clearly along 3 smooth planes.
2. The Mineral in container #3 is Galena. What is the general Luster of this mineral? Metallic
3. The Mineral in container #4 is Quartz. Is its Hardness greater than or less than 5.5? Explain.
Greater than 5.5 because Quartz can scratch glass which has a hardness of 5.5.
4. The Mineral in container #7 is Hematite. What color is its Streak? Red-brown
5. Mineral #9 is Limonite. Does this mineral exhibit Fracture or Cleavage? Explain.
Fracture because it has no clear pattern of breakage. Its edges are rough and jagged.
6. What is a native element or native mineral? A mineral consisting of a single element.
7. Name any mineral that occurs as a compound and explain what makes it a compound:
 Ex: Halite- because it consists of two or more elements, Na & Cl
 Ex: Quartz- Because it consists of two or more elements, Si & O
8. Why do all minerals have crystal shapes? The minerals’ atoms are arranged in an orderly geometric pattern.
9. What is a Rock-Forming Mineral? Minerals like mica, quartz, feldspar and calcite that are often found mixed
together in a rock.
10. What are the 3 ways that minerals form?
 From the cooling of molten rock (magma/lava).
 From evaporation or precipitation out of liquids.Ex: Water evaporates and leaves minerals behind.
 Existing minerals are transformed by extreme heat & pressure.
11-22. Read the given mineral and its chemical composition and identify its mineral group.
Native Element - Silver-- Ag
Sulfide - Galena-- PbS
Silicate - Talc-- Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
Native Element - Sulfur-- S
Carbonate - Calcite-- CaCO3
Sulfide - Chalcopyrite-- CuFeS2
Halide - Halite-- NaCl
Sulfate - Gypsum-- CaSO4
Oxide - Hematite-- Fe2O3
Silicate - Mica-- KAl3Si3O10(OH)2
Sulfate - Barite-- BaSO4
Halide - Fluorite—CaF
23-30. Mineral or not? Write yes or no. If no, explain why.
Gold - Yes
Water - No, it’s a liquid.
Sugar - No, it’s organic.
Ice - Yes
Halite (salt) - Yes
Gemstones - Yes
Coal - No, it’s organic and doesn’t have a definite chemical
composition
Synthetic stones - No, they are not naturally occurring (they are
man-made).
31. Name the 5 “rules” that define a mineral.
 Solid
 Naturally Occurring
 Atoms arranged in an orderly pattern
(Crystal Shape)
 Inorganic
 Definite Chemical Composition
32. Which physical characteristic of a mineral is least
useful when identifying minerals?

Color
33. What two elements are present in all silicate
minerals?

Silicon & Oxygen
34. Which of the following is an example of a native
element: Halite, Ice, Oxygen, or Copper?

Copper
35. Which two elements are the most abundant by
weight in the Earth’s crust?

Silicon & Oxygen
36. Name the mineral that is made of CaCO3 (calcium
carbonate) and has rhombohedral cleavage with a
monoclinic crystal shape.

Calcite
37. Which mineral exhibits fracture, has a hardness of 7
(scratches glass), and a composition of SiO2?

Quartz
38. Moh’s scale would be useful in identifying what
physical property of a mineral?

Hardness
39. Which physical property describes the color of the
powdered form of the mineral?

Streak
40. Which mineral property is illustrated by the peeling
of muscovite mica into thin, flat sheets?

Cleavage
41. Scratching a mineral against a glass plate is a
method used for determining which physical property of
a mineral?

Hardness
42. Which mineral in the form of sand can be used to
manufacture glass?

Quartz
43. Which mineral can be identified by smell?

Sulfur
44. Rocks are made of minerals; minerals are made of
elements; what are elements made of?

Atoms of the same type
45. What property includes the descriptions glassy,
pearly or earthy?

Luster
46. What mineral is known as “fool’s gold”?

Pyrite
47. Known for their resistance to being scratched, what
physical property is shared by all gemstones?

Hardness
48. Property of a mineral when it glows under a UV
light:

Fluorescence
49. Property of a mineral when it gives off subatomic
particles:

Radioactive
50. Property of a mineral that tells you how many times
more dense the mineral is than water:

Specific Gravity