MINERALS- EarthSci

Question 1

What are the four characteristics of Minerals?

Answer 1

1. Naturally Occurring
2. Inorganic
3. Elements or Compound with definite chemical composition
4. Orderly Arrangement of Atoms

Question 2

What is a Crystal?

Answer 2

It is a solid with atoms arranged in orderly repeating patterns.

Question 3

What is magma?

Answer 3

A hot melted rock below the Earth’s surface.

Question 4

When magma cools slowly, the crystals of the rock appear what?

Answer 4

Larger

Question 5

When magma cools down quickly, the crystals of the rock appear what?

Answer 5

Smaller

Question 6

What are two ways a crystal can form?

Answer 6

1. Forms from Magma
2. Forms from Solutions as water evaporates/ if too much substance is dissolved in water.

Question 7

What are the properties that could help identify minerals?

Answer 7

• Color and Appearance
  -Hardness
  -Luster
  -Streak
  -Specific Gravity
  -Cleavage, Fracture
  -Magnetism
  -Glow

Question 8

Define “Hardness” property in a mineral.

Answer 8

It is how easily the mineral is scratched.

Question 9

Define “Luster” property in a mineral.

Answer 9

The way a mineral reflects its light.

Question 10

Define “Streak” property in a mineral.

Answer 10

The color of a mineral in powdered form when scratched on a streak plate.

Question 11

Define “Specific Gravity” property in a mineral.

Answer 11

The ratio of a mineral’s weight to the weight of an equal volume of water.

Question 12

What are the two ways a mineral can break?

Answer 12

Cleavage and Fracture

Question 13

Define Cleavage and Fracture

Answer 13

Cleavage- Breaks along smooth, flat surfaces.
Fracture- Breaks with uneven, rough/jagged surfaces.

Question 14

What are the “other” unique properties in identifying minerals?

Answer 14

Magnetism, Glow, Taste, Bubbling in acid

Question 15

It is used to easily identify the hardness of a mineral.

Answer 15

Mohs Hardness Scale/ Mohs Scale

Question 16

What are the two types of metal in minerals found under Luster?

Answer 16

Metallic and Non-metallic Luster

Question 17

Define Metallic luster.

Answer 17

Metallic luster shines off like an ordinary metal that reflects light. It refers to minerals that are opaque, translucent, and have the appearance of polished metal.

Question 18

Define Non-metallic luster.

Answer 18

Non-metallic luster refers to minerals which reflect light from its surface but does not shine like a metal.

Question 19

Define a mineral.

Answer 19

An inorganic substance of natural occurrence.

Question 20

Define what “inorganic” means in Minerals.

Answer 20

Inorganic minerals are naturally occurring substances that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds and are not derived from living organisms.