Earth Science

Question 1

What is Luster?

Answer 1

Luster is a
description of the way the mineral reflects light.

Question 2

What is Transparency?

Answer 2

Transparency is a measure of the
amount of light that the mineral absorbs or allows to pass through.

Question 3

What is Shape?

Answer 3

Shape is a mineral’s overall shape and how it appears in nature.

Question 4

What is Color?

Answer 4

Color is a function of the wavelengths of light that the mineral reflects.

Question 5

What is Streak?

Answer 5

Streak is the color of the mineral in its powdered form.

Question 6

What is Cleavage?

Answer 6

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to split along a flat plane

Question 7

What is a Fracture?

Answer 7

A fracture is when minerals break along irregular surfaces.

Question 8

What is Hardness?

Answer 8

Hardness is related to the strength of the bonds between atoms within the crystal.

Question 9

What is Saturation?

Answer 9

Full to Capacity

Question 10

What is Precipitate?

Answer 10

Something that comes out of a saturated solution.

Question 11

What is Crystalize?

Answer 11

Crystalize means to harden.

Question 12

What are the 3 types of rocks?

Answer 12

1. Sedimentary
2. Igneous
3. Metamorphic

Question 13

What is a Sedimentary Rock?

Answer 13

Sedimentary rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks or pieces of once-living organisms. They form from deposits that accumulate on the Earth’s surface. Sedimentary rocks often have distinctive layering or bedding.

Question 14

What is an Igneous Rock?

Answer 14

Igneous rocks form when hot, molten rock crystallizes and solidifies. The melt originates deep within the Earth near active plate boundaries or hot spots, then rises toward the surface.

Question 15

What is a Metamorphic Rock?

Answer 15

Metamorphic rocks started out as some other type of rock, but have been substantially changed from their original igneous, sedimentary, or earlier metamorphic form. Metamorphic rocks form when rocks are subjected to high heat, high pressure, hot mineral-rich fluids or, more commonly, some combination of these factors

Question 16

What criteria defines a mineral?

Answer 16

1. Occurs Naturally
2. Inorganic
3. Solid
4. Has a specific chemical composition
5. Has a definite Crystalline Structure

Question 17

Occurs Naturally

Answer 17

All minerals can be found in nature. Although diamonds can be made in a lab, they are still minerals because they also occur naturally.

Question 18

Inorganic

Answer 18

If a compound forms only through biological processes, then it is not a mineral.

Question 19

Solid

Answer 19

Although ice is a mineral, liquid water is not.

Question 20

Has a specific chemical composition

Answer 20

Minerals are elements or compounds. You can write a chemical formula to describe their composition. Most rocks, on the other hand, are mixtures of minerals. You can’t write a single chemical formula for a rock.

Question 21

Has a definite crystalline structure

Answer 21

The atoms in a mineral are arranged in a specific and repeating pattern. Minerals are elements or compounds.