Rock Properties Flashcard

Front

What is the scratch test used for?

Back

The scratch test is used to determine the hardness of rocks and minerals by seeing which material can scratch the other.

Front

What does it mean if one rock scratches another?

Back

It means that the rock that scratches is harder than the rock that gets scratched.

Front

What is hardness in terms of rocks?

Back

Hardness is a measure of how resistant a rock or mineral is to being scratched.

Front

What is the hardest mineral on the Mohs scale?

Back

Diamond is the hardest mineral on the Mohs scale.

Front

What is the Mohs hardness scale?

Back

The Mohs hardness scale is a scale from 1 to 10 that ranks minerals based on their ability to scratch one another.

Front

What type of soil holds the most water?

Back

Clay holds the most water compared to other types of soil.

Front

What is the main factor that shapes sand on a beach?

Back

Water is the main factor that shapes sand on a beach.

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure.

Front

What is the difference between rocks and minerals?

Back

Rocks are made up of one or more minerals, while minerals are pure substances with specific chemical compositions.

Front

What is an example of a soft mineral?

Back

Gypsum is an example of a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.