Chapter 2 - Minerals

Question 1

Which of the following best defines the relationship between minerals and rocks?

a. A rock has an orderly, repetitive, geometrical, internal arrangement of minerals; a mineral is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of rocks.

b. A mineral consists of atoms arranged in a geometrically repetitive structure; in a rock, the atoms are randomly bonded without any geometric pattern.

c. In a mineral, atoms are bonded in a regular, repetitive, internal structure; a rock is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of mineral grains.

d. A rock consists of atoms bonded in a regular, geometrically predictable arrangement; a mineral is a consolidated aggregate of rock particles.

Answer 1

c. In a mineral, atoms are bonded in a regular, repetitive, internal structure; a rock is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of mineral grains.

Question 2

Which of these bonds involves the sharing of electrons?

a. ionic

b. covalent

c. metallic

d. none of these

Answer 2

b. covalent

Question 3

Which one of the minerals is not one of the eight most common elements found in Earth’s crust?

a. silicon

b. oxygen

c. carbon

d. aluminum

Answer 3

c. carbon

Question 4

Metallic and glassy are terms used to describe a mineral’s:

a. crystalline structure

b. hardness

c. magnetism

d. luster

Answer 4

d. luster

Question 5

Which one of the following mineral groups exhibits a sheet-like silicate structure?

a. olivine

b. muscovite

c. quartz

d. hornblende

Answer 5

b. muscovite

Question 6

(T/F) Covalent bonds form when atoms share electrons.

Answer 6

True

Question 7

(T/F) Electrons are found in the nucleus of an atom.

Answer 7

False

Question 8

(T/F) Dark silicate minerals typically contain an abundance of iron and magnesium.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

(T/F) Feldspars are the most plentiful group of minerals on Earth. Kaolinite, a pottery clay and bentonite used in kitty litter because of its absorbent characteristics are weathering products of feldspar.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

In silicate minerals, silicon-oxygen tetrahedra may be bonded together to form:

a. single chain

b. double chain

c. sheet structures

d. all of these

Answer 10

d. all of these

Question 11

Galena, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite are in the __________ mineral group.

a. sulfate

b. sulfide

c. carbonate

d. oxide

Answer 11

b. sulfide

Question 12

(T/F) The basic building block of all the silicate minerals is the silica octagon.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Due to the arrangement of weaker bonds in their crystal lattice, the tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth, parallel planes is known as:

a. streak

b. luster

c. crystal habit

d. cleavage

Answer 13

d. cleavage

Question 14

The resistance of a mineral to scratching or abrasion is known as:

a. luster

b. streak

c, cleavage

d. hardness

Answer 14

d. hardness

Question 15

In a cooling magma composed of silicon, oxygen, aluminum, potassium, hydrogen, calcium, and sodium atoms, which of the following silicate minerals would be impossible to crystallize?

a. quartz

b. muscovite

c. feldspar

d. olivine

Answer 15

d. olivine

Question 16

All of the atoms making up any given element have the same number of ________.

a. protons

b. neutrons

c. electrons

d. muons

Answer 16

a. protons

Question 17

Atoms that have an electrical charge due to a gain or loss of electrons are called:

a. isotopes

b. ions

c. isochrons

d. neutrons

Answer 17

b. ions

Question 18

Which of the following minerals has a cubic crystal shape?

a. calcite

b. quartz

c. halite

d. galena

e. both halite and galena

Answer 18

e. both halite and galena

Question 19

(T/F) A resource is a total amount of a commodity whether discovered or not, but a reserve is only that part of a resource that is known and can be economically recovered.

Answer 19

True

Question 20

(T/F) Gold and silver are examples of native minerals (elements).

Answer 20

True

Question 21

(T/F) Minerals containing feldspar and quartz are more dense than those containing iron and magnesium.

Answer 21

False

Question 22

Which of the following minerals is a silicate (a mineral containing a silicon-bearing ion)?

a. hematite

b. calcite

c. feldspar

d. halite

Answer 22

c. feldspar

Question 23

Which of the following properties would be least useful for identifying a sample of calcite?

a. white color

b. 3 planes of cleavage

c. reaction to hydrochloric acid

d. hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale

Answer 23

a. white color

Question 24

Three of the following ARE true for minerals. Which one of the following is NOT true for minerals?

a. They have a specific, predictable chemical composition.

b. They have an orderly internal crystalline structure.

c. They can be a liquid, solid, or gas.

d. They can be identified by characteristic physical properties.

Answer 24

c. They can be a liquid, solid, or gas.

Question 25

Using the Mohs hardness , which of these minerals would be able to scratch fluorite?

a. talc

b. calcite

c. gypsum

d. quartz

Answer 25

d. quartz

Question 26

In silicate minerals, silicon-oxygen tetrahedra may be bonded together to form:

a. single chain

b. double chain

c. sheet structures

d. all of these

Answer 26

d. all of these

Question 27

Match the mineral group to the appropriate mineral.

Oxide, Native element, Halide, Carbonate, Sulfate, Silicate

1. Dolomite
2. Hematite
3. Gold
4. Gypsum
5. Sodium chloride (table salt)
6. Muscovite

Answer 27

Oxide - hematite
Native element - Gold
Halie - Sodium chloride
Carbonate - dolomite
Sulfate - gypsum
Silicate - Muscovite