4th Quarter Reviewer

What is the definition of a mineral?

• A naturally occurring, organic, liquid substance with variable composition.

• A naturally occurring, inorganic, homogeneous solid with a definite chemical composition and an ordered crystalline structure.

• A man-made, solid substance composed of various elements with no fixed structure.

What does "color" refer to in the context of minerals?

• The temperature at which a mineral melts.

• Certain wavelengths of light reflected by a mineral and perceived by the observer.

• The weight of a mineral compared to an equal volume of water.

What is "streak" in mineralogy?

• The pattern a mineral makes when it breaks.

• The shine on a mineral's surface.

• The color of the powdered form of a mineral.

What does "luster" describe in minerals?

• The ability of a mineral to dissolve in a solvent.

• The appearance of a mineral's surface and how it reflects light.

• The density of a mineral compared to water.

What is meant by "crystal habit"?

• The chemical composition of a mineral.

• The characteristic shape in which a mineral grows, reflecting its crystal structure.

• The hardness of a mineral measured on the Mohs scale.

Which of the following is NOT a physical property of minerals?

• Color

• Streak

• Solubility

What does "cleavage" refer to in the context of minerals?

• The resistance of the minerals to scratching.

• The tendency of some minerals to break along flat surfaces.

• The ratio of a mineral's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water.

What is "hardness" in relation to minerals?

• The pattern in which a mineral breaks aside from its planes of cleavage.

• The resistance of the minerals to scratching.

• The appearance of a mineral’s surface based on light reflection.

What does "fracture" refer to in mineralogy?

• The tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces.

• The characteristic shape in which a mineral grows.

• The pattern in which the mineral breaks aside from its planes of cleavage.

What does "specific gravity" measure in minerals?

• The color of a mineral's powdered form.

• The appearance of a mineral’s surface.

• The ratio of a mineral's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water.