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Mineral Properties

Description: Test your knowledge on the properties of minerals, their identification, and their uses.
Number of Questions: 15
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Tags: mineralogy geology earth science
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Which of the following is NOT a physical property of minerals?

  1. Color

  2. Hardness

  3. Cleavage

  4. Chemical composition


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Chemical composition is a chemical property, while color, hardness, and cleavage are physical properties.

What is the term used to describe the way a mineral breaks along specific planes?

  1. Fracture

  2. Cleavage

  3. Luster

  4. Hardness


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Cleavage refers to the tendency of a mineral to break along specific planes of weakness.

Which mineral is known for its perfect cubic cleavage?

  1. Diamond

  2. Halite

  3. Galena

  4. Fluorite


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Halite, also known as rock salt, exhibits perfect cubic cleavage, meaning it breaks into cube-shaped fragments.

What is the term used to describe the way a mineral reflects light?

  1. Color

  2. Luster

  3. Hardness

  4. Cleavage


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Luster refers to the way a mineral's surface reflects light.

Which mineral is known for its metallic luster?

  1. Galena

  2. Quartz

  3. Feldspar

  4. Calcite


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Galena, a lead sulfide mineral, exhibits a metallic luster, meaning it reflects light like a metal.

What is the term used to describe the resistance of a mineral to scratching?

  1. Hardness

  2. Cleavage

  3. Luster

  4. Color


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Hardness refers to the resistance of a mineral to being scratched by another mineral.

Which mineral is considered the hardest on the Mohs scale of hardness?

  1. Diamond

  2. Corundum

  3. Topaz

  4. Quartz


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Diamond is the hardest mineral on the Mohs scale, with a hardness of 10.

What is the term used to describe the streak of a mineral?

  1. Color

  2. Luster

  3. Hardness

  4. Cleavage


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The streak of a mineral refers to the color of the powder it produces when rubbed against a streak plate.

Which mineral is known for its white streak?

  1. Galena

  2. Quartz

  3. Feldspar

  4. Calcite


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Quartz, a common rock-forming mineral, has a white streak.

What is the term used to describe the specific gravity of a mineral?

  1. Density

  2. Hardness

  3. Cleavage

  4. Luster


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Specific gravity, also known as density, refers to the ratio of the mass of a mineral to the mass of an equal volume of water.

Which mineral is known for its high specific gravity?

  1. Galena

  2. Quartz

  3. Feldspar

  4. Calcite


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Galena, a lead sulfide mineral, has a high specific gravity due to its high density.

What is the term used to describe the way a mineral reacts to hydrochloric acid?

  1. Effervescence

  2. Luster

  3. Hardness

  4. Cleavage


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Effervescence refers to the bubbling or fizzing that occurs when a mineral reacts with hydrochloric acid.

Which mineral is known for its effervescence when reacted with hydrochloric acid?

  1. Galena

  2. Quartz

  3. Feldspar

  4. Calcite


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Calcite, a carbonate mineral, reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce carbon dioxide gas, causing effervescence.

What is the term used to describe the way a mineral reacts to a magnet?

  1. Magnetic susceptibility

  2. Luster

  3. Hardness

  4. Cleavage


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Magnetic susceptibility refers to the degree to which a mineral is attracted or repelled by a magnet.

Which mineral is known for its strong magnetic susceptibility?

  1. Galena

  2. Quartz

  3. Feldspar

  4. Magnetite


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

Magnetite, an iron oxide mineral, is strongly attracted to magnets due to its high magnetic susceptibility.

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