6.6C Minerals Review

Physical properties of minerals such as color, hardness, luster, and streak are used to determine what about a mineral?

• Identity

• Mass

• Age

• Location

Scientists test for the hardness of a mineral by doing which of the following?

• Measuring the mass of the mineral, and comparing it against other minerals

• Observing how light reflects off the mineral and how the mineral looks as a result

• Observing the color of a mineral and comparing it against other minerals

• Scratching the mineral against other substances of known hardness

One test of a mineral is the streak test in which what property is determined?

• The color of powder left behind when the mineral is rubbed on a surface

• The amount of pore space in the mineral as measured by submerging it in water

• The conductivity of a mineral, determined by attaching it to an electric circuit

• The wavelength of light that are refracted when light passes through the mineral

Which of the following best describes luster?

• The mass of an object

• The way light reflects off an object

• The texture of an object

• The density of an object

Refer to the Mohs Hardness Scale. A mineral with a hardness of 7 can scratch -

• orthoclase feldspar, but cannot scratch talc

• calcite, but cannot scratch apatite

• topaz, but cannot scratch fluorite

• gypsum, but cannot scratch corundum

How are minerals identified using luster?

• Minerals are scratched against each other. The mineral that does the scratching has the most luster.

• They are rubbed on unglazed tile. The powder left behind is the luster

• Using a balance, the mass is recorded. Which ever mineral has the largest mass has the most luster.

• The way that light reflects off a mineral determines the luster of the mineral.

Information on several minerals is given in this table. If one were to observe samples of the minerals from the table, which two would appear similar in color, but could be distinguished, one from the other, using a streak test?

• Hematite and alabandite

• Chalcopyrite and platinum

• Alabandite and chalcopyrite

• Citrine and biotite

A student is given the chart above and is told to identify an unknown mineral. The student observes that the mineral has a glassy luster and a hardness less than 3. What is the identity of the mineral?

• Actmite

• Cobaltite

• Jadeite

• Talc

Use the Mohs Hardness Scale below. Which mineral can scratch fluorite, but is scratched by orthoclase feldspar?

• Calcite

• Talc

• Apatite

• Diamond

The color of a mineral in a powder form left over from testing its hardness on a scratch plate.

• Streak

• Conductivity

• Malleability

• Inorganic