Lesson 5: Minerals

Question 1

the building blocks of rocks

Answer 1

minerals

Question 2

study of minerals; study of the chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of the mineral constitutuents of rocks

Answer 2

mineralogy

Question 3

characteristics of minerals

Answer 3

naturally occurring, inorganic, homogeneous solid, definite chemical composition, orderly crystalline structure

Question 4

a product of Earth’s natural processes

Answer 4

naturally occurring

Question 5

it must be product of Earth’s physical processes.

Answer 5

inorganic

Question 6

minerals should have definite volume and rigid shape

Answer 6

homogeneous solid

Question 7

represented by a chemical formula

Answer 7

definite chemical composition

Question 8

atoms of minerals are arranged in an orderly and repeating pattern

Answer 8

orderly crystalline structure

Question 9

properties of minerals

Answer 9

color, streak, hardness, cleavage, crystalline structure/habit, diaphaneity/amount of transparency, luster, and tenacity

Question 10

changes depending on the surface

Answer 10

color

Question 11

color of mineral in powdered form

Answer 11

streak

Question 12

minerals’ resistance to scratching

Answer 12

hardness

Question 13

what is used to measure the hardness of a mineral

Answer 13

mohs scale of hardness

Question 14

10 on the mohs scale of hardness

Answer 14

diamond

Question 15

9 on the mohs scale of hardness

Answer 15

corundum

Question 16

8 on the mohs scale of hardness

Answer 16

topaz

Question 17

7 on the mohs scale of hardness

Answer 17

quartz

Question 18

6 on the mohs scale of hardness

Answer 18

orthoclase

Question 19

5 on the mohs scale of hardness

Answer 19

apatite

Question 20

4 on the mohs scale of hardness

Answer 20

fluorite

Question 21

3 on the mohs scale of hardness

Answer 21

calcite

Question 22

2 on the mohs scale of hardness

Answer 22

gypsum

Question 23

1 on the mohs scale of hardness

Answer 23

talc

Question 24

mineral’s resistance to being broken and fracture

Answer 24

cleavage

Question 25

ability to allow light to pass
through it. This is affected by chemical makeup of the mineral sample.

Answer 25

diaphaneity/amount of transparency

Question 26

how light is reflected off a surface/overall sheen of mineral

Answer 26

luster

Question 27

describes the minerals reaction to stress.

Answer 27

tenacity

Question 28

six classifications of tenacity

Answer 28

brittleness, malleability, ductility, flexible but inelastic, flexible and elastic, and sectility

Question 29

a mineral turns into powder

Answer 29

brittleness

Question 30

a mineral can be flattened by pounding with a hammer.

Answer 30

malleability

Question 31

A mineral can be stretched into wire.

Answer 31

ductility

Question 32

Minerals are bent but they remain in the new position.

Answer 32

flexible but inelastic

Question 33

Minerals are bent, and they bring back to their
original position.

Answer 33

flexible and elastic

Question 34

ability of minerals to be sliced by a knife.

Answer 34

sectility