Rocks and Minerals Study Guide

What is one of the most unreliable characteristics to identify minerals?

• Color

• Streak

• Luster

• Density

What is Luster?

• The color of the powder of a mineral. Found by conducting a streak test by scratching the mineral on a streak plate

• mass divided by volume

• The way in which a mineral reflects light. Can be classified as metallic or nonmetallic.

• A measure of a mineral’s ability to resist scratching. Perform a hardness test by scratching the mineral with common objects and using Moh’s Hardness Scale to determine a mineral’s hardness

What is Density

• Mass divided by volume

• A measure of a mineral’s ability to resist scratching. Perform a hardness test by scratching the mineral with common objects and using Moh’s Hardness Scale to determine a mineral’s hardness

• A naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite crystal structure

• This is the least reliable characteristic to use on its own to classify a mineral.

A naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite crystal structure is called what?

• Intrusive/Extrusive Rocks

• The color of the powder of a mineral. Found by conducting a streak test by scratching the mineral on a streak plate.

• The three types of rocks are Sedimentary, Metamorphic, and Igneous.

• A naturally formed, inorganic solid that has a definite crystal structure is called a mineral.

How do we classify rocks?

• Metamorphic and Igneous

• Sedimentary, Metamorphic, and Igneous.

• Intrusive/Extrusive Rocks

• Cleavage/Fracture

Define texture as it relates to rock classification.

• Size

• Shape

• Arrangement of mineral grains

• All of the Above

Why is texture of igneous rocks important to geologists?

• Texture helps geologists identify a Cleavage/Fracture rock's origin. It tells them where and the rock formed.

• Texture helps geologists identify a Sedimentary rock's origin. It tells them where and how the rock formed.

• Texture helps geologists identify an igneous rock’s origin. It tells them where and how the rock formed.

• Texture helps geologist identify a Metamorphic rock's origin. It tells them where and how the rock formed.

What are some characteristics of a sedimentary rock?

• Sedimentary rock characteristics include layers, light colors, and signs of life and surface activity. Signs of life and surface activity include fossils, tracks, and ripple marks.

• Size, shape, and arrangement of mineral grains

• Refer to the way a mineral breaks.

• The way in which a mineral reflects light.

Foliation can develop due to what?

• Foliation develops due to exposure to hardness and luster.

• Foliation develops due to exposure to extreme heat and density.

• Foliation develops due to exposure to extreme heat and pressure.

• Foliation develops due to exposure to igenous rocks and pressure.

Which type of rock contains foliation?

• Sedimentary Rocks

• Metamorphic Rocks

• Igneous Rocks

• All of the above