Minerals and Mineral Properties

In classifying the hardness of minerals, the Mohs Scale is often used. This scale is shown on the left below. Using the information provided about the unknown minerals, what is the hardness of X, Y, and Z on the Mohs Scale?

• Mineral X= 7

  Mineral Y= 5

  Mineral Z= 6

• Mineral X= 6

  Mineral Y= 7

  Mineral Z= 6

• Mineral X= 5

  Mineral Y= 7

  Mineral Z= 6

• Mineral X= 7

  Mineral Y= 6

  Mineral Z= 5

Which of these are characteristics of a mineral?

• Naturally occurring

• Solid substance

• Made by humans

• Organic

• Have a crystalline structure

The chart shows the Mohs scale for measuring the hardness of minerals. A mineral that can scratch fluorite and can be scratched by orthoclase is able to-

• scratch both calcite and quartz

• be scratched by both calcite and quartz

• scratch calcite and be scratched by quartz

• scratch quartz and be scratched by calcite

According to Mohs Hardness Scale, which of these groups of minerals can scratch fluorite?

• Diamond, gypsum, and quartz

• Apatite, orthoclase, and corundum

• Calcite, quartz, and topaz

• Talc, gypsum, and calcite

A student is determining the hardness of an unknown mineral. It will scratch Quartz and Feldspar. It is scratched by Corundum. What is the apparent hardness?

• 8

• 9

• 6

• 4

Which of the following is NOT true of minerals?

• They are liquids

• They are formed in nature

• They are inorganic

• They have crystalline structure

The above figure is testing the mineral's-

• cleavage and fracture

• hardness and color

• luster and density

• streak and magnetism

Which of the following terms is NOT used to describe luster?

• Pearly

• Metallic

• Glassy

• Beautiful

The minerals a rock is made up of is referred to as its-

• hardness

• texture

• classification

• composition

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

All of the following are physical properties used in mineral identification, except-

• hardness

• color

• streak

• length