Minerals, Rocks and Plate Tectonics Test

1. ____________________ (s) are the smallest particles that exist. All matter is made of these.

• Atom

• Intrusive

• Extrusive

• Silicate

Answer explanation

Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of matter, making them the smallest particles that exist. The other options (Intrusive, Extrusive, Silicate) refer to types of rocks or minerals, not basic units of matter.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

____________________ forming minerals usually have large crystals and are lighter in color. (Word Bank: Intrusive, Slow, Atom, Element, Extrusive, Silicate, Fast, Non-Silicate)

• Intrusive

• Extrusive

• Silicate

• Non-Silicate

Answer explanation

Intrusive forming minerals cool slowly beneath the Earth's surface, allowing large crystals to form. They are typically lighter in color compared to extrusive minerals, which cool quickly and have smaller crystals.

3. ____________________ minerals are those that cool from magma. (Word Bank: Intrusive, Slow, Atom, Element, Extrusive, Silicate, Fast, Non-Silicate)

• Intrusive

• Extrusive

• Silicate

• Non-Silicate

Answer explanation

Intrusive minerals form when magma cools slowly beneath the Earth's surface, allowing larger crystals to develop. In contrast, extrusive minerals cool quickly on the surface, resulting in smaller crystals.

4. Pure substances that can not be broken down are called ____________________ (s). (Word Bank: Intrusive, Slow, Atom, Element, Extrusive, Silicate, Fast, Non-Silicate)

• Element

• Atom

• Silicate

• Non-Silicate

Answer explanation

Pure substances that cannot be broken down into simpler substances are called elements. Atoms are the basic units of elements, but the term 'element' specifically refers to the pure substance itself.

5. Minerals that form ____________________ have very small crystals or pores and tend to be darker in color. (Word Bank: Intrusive, Slow, Atom, Element, Extrusive, Silicate, Fast, Non-Silicate)

• Extrusive

• Intrusive

• Slow

• Element

Answer explanation

Extrusive minerals form from lava that cools quickly on the Earth's surface, resulting in small crystals and often darker colors. In contrast, intrusive minerals cool slowly underground, leading to larger crystals.

6. ____________________ minerals form from lava. (Word Bank: Intrusive, Slow, Atom, Element, Extrusive, Silicate, Fast, Non-Silicate)

• Extrusive

• Intrusive

• Silicate

• Non-Silicate

Answer explanation

Extrusive minerals form from lava that cools quickly on the Earth's surface, while intrusive minerals form from magma that cools slowly underground. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Extrusive'.

7. Minerals that have silicon and oxygen in their chemical makeup are called ____________________ minerals.

• Silicate

• Intrusive

• Extrusive

• Non-Silicate

Answer explanation

Minerals containing silicon and oxygen are classified as silicate minerals. This distinguishes them from non-silicate minerals, which lack these elements in their composition.

About 10% of the minerals of the Earth are ____________________ minerals because they DO NOT have the combination of Silicon and Oxygen in their chemical makeup.

• Non-Silicate

• Silicate

• Carbonate

• Oxide

Answer explanation

About 10% of Earth's minerals are classified as Non-Silicate minerals because they lack the combination of Silicon and Oxygen in their chemical structure, distinguishing them from Silicate minerals.

Which of the following is NOT one of the 5 characteristics that determine a mineral?

• Naturally occurring

• Inorganic

• Solid

• Definite chemical composition

• Organic

Answer explanation

The five characteristics that define a mineral are: naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, definite chemical composition, and crystalline structure. 'Organic' is not a characteristic of minerals, making it the correct answer.

Which of the following is NOT a way that a mineral can form?

• Crystallization from magma

• Precipitation from solution

• Metamorphism

• Photosynthesis

Answer explanation

Photosynthesis is a biological process used by plants to convert light into energy, not a method of mineral formation. The other options—crystallization from magma, precipitation from solution, and metamorphism—are all valid mineral formation processes.