Chapter 9 Flashcards
Which common metal was worth more per ounce than gold before scientists found a practical means of extracting it from the ore?
aluminum
Is liquid water a mineral?
no
Is seawater a mixture?
yes
Sulfur is to native mineral as quartz is to
compound mineral
Give an example of a mineral that has perfect cleavage
mica
Obsidian, a mineral of volcanic origin, breaks in smooth, curved surfaces. What type of fracture does it show?
conchoidal
A mineral rated as 1 on the Mohs scale is
soft
A diamond will scratch feldspar and feldspar will scratch calcite. Which of these is the only possible hardness values for calcite, feldspar and diamond in the correct order? A. 3,10,6 B. 10,3,6 C. 10,6,3 D. 3,6,10
3,6,10
When you conduct an acid test on a mineral sample, you are watching for
gas bubbles
A dark mineral sample attracts iron filings. You could conclude that the mineral is
magnetite
A mineral sample gives a strong reading on a Geiger counter. You could conclude that the mineral is
pitchblende (a uranium ore)
A transparent mineral fluoresces red and exhibits double refraction. You could conclude that the mineral is
calcite
The best metallic conductor of electricity is
silver
Is quartz a native mineral?
no
A carat is a unit of
mass
Scientists theorize that some macaws regularly eat clay because they
have a mineral deficiency
Fool’s gold (also called pyrite), a mineral of iron and sulfur, is classified as a(n)
sulfide
Mineral salts are more properly called
halides
The mineral cinnabar, also called mercury sulfide, is an important source, or _________ of mercury.
ore
A geologist who studies and identifies mineral samples is called a(n)
mineralogist
The process by which a crystal grows is called
accretion
If a mineral produces regular, flat surfaces when it breaks, then it exhibits
cleavage
The brilliance of a diamond is due to its high index of
refraction
___________ occurs when a mineral’s crystal structure splits a light beam passing through it into two parts. Thus, two images are seen through a transparent crystal.
double refraction
A deep vertical shaft of rock produced by volcanic activity in which diamonds are frequently found is called a(n)
diamond pipe
The most abundant family or class of minerals is the
silicates
Oxides are compounds that consist of _____ and another element, usually metal.
oxygen
A lab scientist performed a flame test on an unknown specimen and noted a beautiful violet flame. He recognized this as potassium, and another test narrowed the options down to either potassium carbonate or potassium oxide. Could he finish his identification by using hydrochloric acid? If so, name the specimen and explain your reasoning.
Carbonates fizz when tested with acid, so if bubbles form, he has potassium carbonate. No fizz means it is potassium oxide.
What property does copper possess that makes it a good material for plumbing pipes?
Copper forms a tough outer layer when it tarnishes and, as a result, resists corrosion
A mineral with only one kind of atom
native mineral
two or more substances combined but not chemically bonded
mixture
the color of a mineral’s powder
streak
the amount and quality of the light reflected from a mineral’s surface
luster
the ratio of the density of a specimen t the density of water at 4 degrees C
specific gravity
the glow caused by ultraviolet light illumination
fluorescence
the bending of light
refraction
True or False
All minerals are composed of two or more elements
False
True or False
All native minerals are pure elements
True
True or False
Some minerals can have more than one color
True
True or False
A mineral’s streak is a more reliable way to classify a mineral than its apparent color
True
True or False
Some minerals are too hard to leave a streak on a streak plate
True
True or False
Cleavage and fracture both refer to the characteristic way in which a mineral breaks
True
True or False
The Mohs scale is used to rate a mineral’s resistance to fracturing.
False
True or False
A mineral sample that can glow for extended periods in the dark is said to be fluorescent.
False
True or False
Placer deposits are found deep underground
False
True or False
Diamond is composed of carbon
True
True or False
During the smelting process, heat is used to cause a physical change in which metal is separated from its ore
False
Explain how you would determine the specific gravity of a mineral specimen in the laboratory.
refer to page 199
What are some of the measurements used to describe the seven different basic crystal systems
refer to page 202
From a Christian perspective, defend or refute this statement: “We should be actively engaged in locating, mining, and processing new sources of ores and their minerals.”
refer to pages 209-210
