Deck 4: Earth Materials

Question 1

What mineral property is illustrated by this photograph?

A) crystal form
B) cleavage
C) color
D) luster

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Important characteristics to observe in rocks include:

A) types of minerals present
B) sizes and shapes of crystals
C) presence or absence of layers
D) all of the above

Answer 2

D

Question 3

What mineral test is shown in this photograph?

A) scratch test
B) effervescence
C) streak
D) magnetism
E) specific gravity

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is true about tests we can perform on a mineral?

A) a softer mineral will scratch a harder mineral
B) many common minerals react effervesce) with dilute hydrochloric acid
C) a streak plate is used to determine how hard a mineral is
D) many minerals are strongly magnetic
E) none of these

Question 5

What are the two main ways that minerals are put together in rocks?

A) igneous versus metamorphic
B) igneous versus sedimentary
C) metamorphic versus sedimentary
D) crystalline versus clastic

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of crystals and clasts evaluated to classify a rock?

A) crystal/clast density
B) crystal/clast size
C) crystal/clast shape
D) crystal/clast composition

Question 7

What is the main type of rocks in the Peninsular Ranges of Southern California and Mexico?

A) volcanic rocks erupted from a large volcano
B) granite and metamorphic rocks that formed at depth
C) flat-lying sedimentary rocks
D) unconsolidated sand and gravel

Question 8

A mineral property that can be observed without using a test is:

A) effervescence
B) magmatism
C) hardness
D) cleavage
E) all of these

Question 9

What mineral is shown in this photograph?

A) quartz
B) feldspar
C) calcite
D) hematite
E) magnetite

Question 10

What mineral test is shown in this photograph?

A) scratch test
B) effervescence
C) streak
D) magnetism
E) specific gravity

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a mineral?

A) liquid water
B) crystals grown in a laboratory
C) volcanic glass
D) piece of wood
E) all of these

Question 12

Rocks are composed of:

A) minerals
B) elements
C) glass

Question 13

What type of rock is shown in this photograph?

A) crystalline rock
B) clastic rock
C) rock with minerals that are too small to see
D) none of these

Question 14

What type of rock is shown in this photograph?

A) crystalline rock
B) clastic rock
C) rock with minerals that are too small to see
D) none of these

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a required criterion for a substance to be classified as a mineral?

A) human-made
B) naturally occurring
C) crystalline solid
D) inorganic

Question 16

Which of the following is a mineral?

A) ice
B) crystals grown in a laboratory
C) volcanic glass
D) material with crystals of different chemical compounds
E) none of these

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of rocks with clastic textures?

A) composed of interlocking minerals
B) composed of broken fragments of older eroded rocks
C) commonly formed in low temperature environments

Question 18

Which mineral property is the least reliable for identifying a mineral?

A) cleavage
B) luster
C) crystal form
D) streak
E) color

Question 19

What mineral is shown in this photograph?

A) quartz
B) feldspar
C) calcite
D) hematite
E) magnetite

Question 20

Which of the following is true about rocks and minerals?

A) a rock can contain more than one mineral
B) a mineral is composed of chemical elements
C) a single rock can include more than one mineral
D) all of these

Question 21

What mineral is characterized by a reddish streak, as shown in this photograph?

A) quartz
B) feldspar
C) calcite
D) hematite
E) magnetite

Question 22

What type of cleavage is illustrated in this figure?

A) one direction
B) two perpendicular directions
C) two nonperpendicular directions
D) three perpendicular directions
E) three nonperpendicular directions

Question 23

Minerals have an ordered internal atomic arrangement. What does this mean?

A) Atoms in a mineral are arranged in an ordered geometric pattern.
B) Atoms in a mineral are arranged in a random fashion.
C) Atoms in a mineral must be in the shape of either a cube, a tetrahedron, or an octahedron.
D) Atoms in a mineral must all be of the same type of element.

Question 24

The mineral halite has cube-shaped crystals because:

A) there are no planes along which the mineral can break
B) cubes are the most common way two tetrahedron can join
C) of the arrangement of atoms in the crystal lattice
D) halite is soluble in water

Question 25

Identify the list that consists of ten common minerals ranked in order of increasing hardness, from 1 to 10.

A) Mohs Hardness Scale
B) Bowen's reaction series
C) Breakage chart
D) Specific gravity scale

Question 26

The mineral halite is seen in the image. One part of the atomic arrangement repeats indefinitely to make the entire crystal. This property of a mineral is called:

A) ordered atomic arrangement
B) consistency of composition
C) solid state crystallization
D) effervescence

Question 27

The ratio of density of a mineral to that of freshwater is called the:

A) specific gravity
B) harness
C) crystal shape
D) cleavage

Question 28

What arrangement of atoms does this diagram illustrate?

A) cubic
B) tetrahedron
C) octahedron
D) dodecahedron

Question 29

What type of cleavage is illustrated in this figure?

A) one direction
B) two perpendicular directions
C) two nonperpendicular directions
D) three perpendicular directions
E) three nonperpendicular directions

Question 30

What does the shape of these crystals indicate about the environment in which they formed?

A) They formed at great depth and under very high pressures.
B) They formed from cold water that was moving rapidly through the rocks.
C) They formed into a space filled with water rather than solid rock.
D) They grew during an explosive volcanic eruption.

Question 31

A geologist who is also a mineralogist would generally study:

A) minerals, like quartz and halite
B) vitamins and minerals, like potassium and calcium
C) coal mining techniques
D) mine collapses

Question 32

A crystal with a well-defined shape, such as a cube, probably:

A) does not reflect the arrangement of atoms in the lattice
B) grew early and so was forced to grow around other minerals
C) does not have a well-defined cleavage
D) will react with dilute hydrochloric acid
E) none of these

Question 33

What arrangement of atoms does this diagram illustrate?

A) cubic
B) tetrahedron
C) octahedron
D) dodecahedron

Question 34

What mineral test is shown in this photograph?

A) scratch test
B) effervescence
C) streak
D) magnetism
E) specific gravity

Question 35

A cube of some rock weighs 6 grams, and a same-sized cube of water weighs 2 grams. What is the specific gravity of this rock?

A) 0.5
B) 1
C) 2
D) 3
E) 6

Question 36

Which of the following are tests we can quickly and easily perform even in the field) to help us identify a mineral?

A) hardness
B) effervescence
C) streak
D) magnetism
E) all of these

Question 37

What type of cleavage is illustrated in this figure?

A) one direction
B) two perpendicular directions
C) two nonperpendicular directions
D) three perpendicular directions
E) three nonperpendicular directions

Question 38

What type of cleavage is illustrated in this figure?

A) one direction
B) two perpendicular directions
C) two nonperpendicular directions
D) three perpendicular directions
E) three nonperpendicular directions

Question 39

Which of the following characterizes a liquid state of matter?

A) Atoms are packed together with a relatively fixed shape.
B) Atoms are poorly connected and can expand to fill the available volume.
C) Atoms are held together, but weakly enough that the material is mobile and can change shape.
D) The material retains its shape and volume unless deformed, dissolved, or perturbed in some other way.

Question 40

What type of cleavage is illustrated in this figure?

A) one direction
B) two perpendicular directions
C) two nonperpendicular directions
D) three perpendicular directions
E) three nonperpendicular directions

Question 41

In this part of the Periodic Table, what type of elements are in the group that includes elements Cu, Ag, and Au?

A) metals
B) nonmetals
C) noble gases
D) silicates

Question 42

If a mineral fractures, how many directions of cleavage does it have?

A) four directions of cleavage
B) three directions of cleavage
C) two directions of cleavage
D) one direction of cleavage
E) no directions of cleavage

Question 43

If a mineral cleaves into thin sheets, it probably has:

A) no well-defined cleavage planes
B) three directions of cleavage
C) fractures rather than cleavage
D) one dominant direction of cleavage
E) none of these

Question 44

Which of the following is true about asbestos?

A) There are several types of asbestos, but they represent the same mineral.
B) Different types of asbestos have the same health risks.
C) Each type of asbestos has long, straight fibers.
D) Asbestos represents different minerals with different health risks.

Question 45

Which of the following is NOT a main type of silicate structure?

A) single chains
B) double chains
C) triple chains
D) sheets
E) frameworks

Question 46

What type of silicate minerals is shown from this arrangement of silicon tetrahedron?

A) independent tetrahedra
B) single chains
C) double chains
D) sheets
E) frameworks

Question 47

What class of mineral forms when the element S is bonded with a metal, as iron in the mineral pyrite?

A) silicates
B) carbonates
C) oxides
D) halides
E) sulfides

Question 48

The most important class of rock-forming minerals on Earth is:

A) halides
B) sulfates
C) native minerals
D) silicates
E) asbestos

Question 49

What class of minerals form when the element Si is bonded with element O, as in the mineral quartz?

A) silicates
B) carbonates
C) oxides
D) halides
E) sulfides

Question 50

What class of mineral forms when the element O is bonded with a metal, as in the mineral hematite?

A) silicates
B) carbonates
C) oxides
D) halides
E) sulfides

Question 51

The mineral in the image is quartz. Take a look at the irregularly broken left end of the crystal and determine which of the following is true.

A) The mineral has fractured, as it lacks planes along which it may cleave.
B) The mineral must have specific planes along which atomic bonds are weaker than in other areas of the structure.
C) Since the mineral has irregular breakage, it must have good cleavage.
D) Bonds within the mineral must have varying strengths.

Question 52

In this part of the Periodic Table, what type of elements are in the group that includes elements He, Ne, and Ar?

A) metals
B) nonmetals
C) noble gases
D) silicates

Question 53

Which of the following is NOT a major class of rock-forming minerals?

A) silicates
B) carbonates
C) oxides
D) argonites

Question 54

What class of mineral forms when the element C is bonded with element O, as in the mineral calcite?

A) silicates
B) carbonates
C) oxides
D) halides
E) sulfides

Question 55

If a mineral lacks planes along which it may cleave, what will occur?

A) The mineral will fracture in an irregular pattern.
B) The mineral will not break.
C) The mineral will fracture evenly along predictable planes.
D) The mineral will still cleave, but it will only occur along one plane.

Question 56

What type of silicate minerals is shown from this arrangement of silicon tetrahedron?

A) independent tetrahedra
B) single chains
C) double chains
D) sheets
E) frameworks

Question 57

What class of mineral forms when the elements Cl or F is bonded with a metal, as in the mineral halite?

A) silicates
B) carbonates
C) oxides
D) halides
E) sulfides

Question 58

What type of silicate minerals is shown from this arrangement of silicon tetrahedron?

A) independent tetrahedra
B) single chains
C) double chains
D) sheets
E) frameworks

Question 59

Which of the following is NOT a main group of chemical elements on the Periodic Table?

A) transition metals
B) nonmetals
C) noble gases
D) sulfides

Question 60

In this part of the Periodic Table, what type of elements are in the group that includes elements C, O, and S?

A) metals
B) nonmetals
C) noble gases
D) silicates

Question 61

This iron oxide mineral commonly has a reddish color and consistently has red streak. What mineral is it?

A) calcite
B) dolomite
C) hematite
D) magnetite
E) pyrite

Question 62

Which of the following terms refers to the compound SiO₂?

A) silica
B) silicon
C) silicone
D) silicane

Question 63

Which of the following minerals is a sulfide and commonly forms cube-shaped crystals?

A) pyrite
B) hematite
C) dolomite
D) gypsum
E) halite

Question 64

What type of atom is represented by the small brown sphere in the center of this silica tetrahedron?

A) aluminum
B) silicon
C) iron
D) chlorine
E) sulfur

Question 65

How do silica tetrahedra bond in silicate minerals?

A) with each other by sharing an oxygen
B) with other elements, such as potassium
C) in single or double chains
D) in sheets
E) all of these

Question 66

What type of silicate minerals is shown from this arrangement of silicon tetrahedron?

A) independent tetrahedra
B) single chains
C) double chains
D) sheets
E) frameworks

Question 67

What type of cleavage would be exhibited by a mineral that has this arrangement of silicon tetrahedron?

A) one direction of cleavage
B) two perpendicular directions of cleavage
C) two nonperpendicular directions of cleavage
D) the mineral factures instead of cleaves

Question 68

What type of cleavage would be exhibited by a mineral that has this arrangement of silicon tetrahedron?

A) one direction of cleavage
B) two perpendicular directions of cleavage
C) two nonperpendicular directions of cleavage
D) the mineral factures instead of cleaves

Question 69

Which of the following is a dark-colored silicate mineral?

A) quartz
B) potassium feldspar
C) muscovite
D) biotite
E) none of these

Question 70

There are more than 4,000 known minerals, most of which are:

A) uncommon to rare
B) often encountered at the surface
C) very common
D) found together in single hand samples of rocks

Question 71

What type of cleavage would be exhibited by a mineral that has this arrangement of silicon tetrahedron?

A) one direction of cleavage
B) two perpendicular directions of cleavage
C) two nonperpendicular directions of cleavage
D) the mineral factures instead of cleaves

Question 72

The dominant shape in which silicon and oxygen atoms combine in silicate minerals is:

A) cube
B) prism
C) hexagon
D) octagon
E) none of these

Question 73

A mineral is light colored, transparent, has a hardness of seven, and fractures rather than cleaves. What minerals is it?

A) garnet
B) quartz
C) biotite
D) muscovite
E) feldspar

Question 74

The mineral shown in this photograph is a sulfide mineral and commonly forms cube-shaped crystals. What mineral is it?

A) pyrite
B) hematite
C) dolomite
D) gypsum
E) halite

Question 75

The very common mineral shown in this photograph is commonly a pink- to cream-colored mineral with wavy, light-colored lines. It does not effervesce. What mineral is it?

A) garnet
B) quartz
C) biotite
D) muscovite
E) feldspar

Question 76

The very common mineral shown in this photograph is light colored, transparent, has a hardness of seven, and fractures rather than cleaves. It does not effervesce. What mineral is it?

A) garnet
B) quartz
C) biotite
D) muscovite
E) feldspar

Question 77

This very common carbonate mineral effervesces when it contacts dilute HCl. What mineral is it?

A) calcite
B) dolomite
C) hematite
D) magnetite
E) pyrite

Question 78

Which of the following is generally a light-colored silicate mineral?

A) quartz
B) pyroxene
C) amphibole
D) biotite
E) all of these

Question 79

Which mineral is commonly pinkish and has light-colored wavy lines?

A) quartz
B) potassium feldspar
C) pyroxene
D) amphibole
E) olivine

Question 80

Which of the following minerals is typically green and has no cleavage?

A) muscovite
B) plagioclase feldspar
C) biotite
D) quartz
E) olivine