Physical Properties of Minerals

Which of the following physical properties is likely to be most useful in identifying a mineral?

• color

• luster

• streak

• hardness

Which of the following minerals is the hardest according to the Mohs' scale?

• Talc

• Calcite

• Topaz

• Corundum

You encounter a clear mineral in a vein within a rock, which your instructor tells you is either quartz, calcite, or gypsum. You can scratch it with an window glass , but not your fingernail or an iron nail. Which is it?

• Calcite

• Flourite

• Apatite

• Gypsum

Feldspar occurs in many different colors and rock types. Which of the following properties is most likely to help you identify Feldspar, no matter what color it is?

• luster

• Crystalline Structure

• diaphaneity

• streak

Why isn't color alone very useful in mineral identification?

• Many minerals have the same color.

• One mineral can have many different colors.

• The presence of one element can cause many colors

• all of the answers all of the answers

During their field trip at Tawi river, Ram luckily found two minerals of the same colors and sizes. He wanted to know the difference between the minerals by measuring its density. Which property of minerals does Ram wants to test?

• specific gravity

• tenacity

• luster

• cleavage and fracture

All minerals have cleavage.

• True

• False

Which of the following properties indicates the extent at which light can pass through the minerals?

• Crystalline Structure

• Diaphaneity

• Cleavage and Fracture

• Color

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS4-2

Which of the following is not a characteristic of a mineral?

• luster

• inorganic

• solid

• crystal structure

Diamonds are ranked at _____ on the Mohs scale of hardness, which means they are _____.