Minerals Quiz

Which mineral test describes the color left on a tile when rubbed across?

• Streak

• Hardness

• Luster

• Color

Luster describes how light reflects from a mineral. Which word might describe the luster of a mineral?

• opaque

• metallic

• Green

• Transparent

When you shine a light through a mineral it can be described by which three words?

• opaque, metallic, non-metallic

• opaque, translucent, transparent

• metallic and non-metallic

• transparent, shiny, dull

What are you testing if you are scratching a mineral with a fingernail, penny, or a nail?

• Light

• Luster

• Color

• Hardness

Which mineral is the softest according to the Moh's Hardness scale?

• Diamond

• Fluorite

• Talc

• Gypsum

This mineral can be white and has a hardness of 1?

• Talc

• Calcite

• Mica

• Gypsum

This mineral can be pink or white, has a hardness of 6, and has a dull or pearly luster?

• Calcite

• Quartz

• Feldspar

• Talc

This mineral splits into thin sheets, has a hardness of 2, and can be black or gray?

• Talc

• Mica

• Gypsum

• All of the above

This mineral bubbles with acid and can be glassy?

• Mica

• Talc

• Calcite

• Feldspar

Johnny found a mineral in nature. He described it to his classmates as being white. Why could his classmates not identify the mineral he found using the chart above?

• There were several minerals that were white.

• There was not enough information.

• The answer wasn't on the chart.

• Describing the color was not enough information.