Minerals

Question 1

Define a mineral

Answer 1

naturally occurring inorganic solid with definite chemical composition and regularly repeating atoms

Question 2

Minerals are made up of

Answer 2

elements

Question 3

There are how many known minerals

Answer 3

3800

Question 4

What are 8 different tests to identify minerals

Answer 4

streak, hardness, luster, color, cleavage/fracture, crystal structure, special properties, specific gravity

Question 5

some minerals are gemstones when…

Answer 5

they are in their crystal form, cut and polished

Question 6

gemstones are any stone with one of two values

Answer 6

economic or aesthetic

Question 7

Are all gemstones minerals?

Answer 7

NO

Question 8

rubies and sapphires come from the mineral

Answer 8

corundum

Question 9

trace amounts of what turn corundum blue

Answer 9

iron and titanium

Question 10

what turns corundum pink and deep red ruby

Answer 10

chromium

Question 11

What minerals are gemstones in their pure form?

Answer 11

diamond, topaz, turquoise

Question 12

What is the softest of all minerals and what is it used for?

Answer 12

talc used as talcum/baby powder

Question 13

quarts crystals have a property called

Answer 13

piezoelectricity

Question 14

What does piezoelectricity mean?

Answer 14

when quartz is placed under mechanical stress, it creates electricity.

Question 15

What is quartz used in?

Answer 15

clocks, watches, radios

Question 16

What is halite used for

Answer 16

rock salt on roadways

Question 17

graphite is used in…

Answer 17

pencil lead

Question 18

what is the most important ore of lead

Answer 18

galena

Question 19

galena lead is most commonly used for

Answer 19

lead acid batteries

Question 20

galena is mined for its….

Answer 20

…silver

Question 21

what minerals are mined for iron?

Answer 21

magnetite, hematite and limonite

Question 22

what mineral is used in drywall, cement and plaster of paris

Answer 22

gypsum

Question 23

what form of gypsum is often used in ornamental pieces–very soft (2)

Answer 23

alabaster

Question 24

Mohs hardness scale measures what

Answer 24

hardness/softness–the mineral that is hardest will leave scratch on softer mineral

Question 25

Name hardness scale 1–10

Answer 25

1. talc
2. gypsum
   2.5 finger nail
   3 calcite
   3.5 copper penny
   4 flourite
   5 apatite
   5.5 glass
   6 feldspar
   6.5 steel nail
   7 quartz
   8 topaz
   9 corundum
   10 diamond