Deck 4: Earth Materials: Minerals and Rocks

Question 1

Which of the following phrases is not part of the definition of a mineral?

A) crystalline solid
B) specific chemical composition
C) human-made

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following statements is not true?

A) Pyroxene and amphibole have two cleavages at different angles.
B) Pyroxene and amphibole have the same chemical composition.
C) Pyroxene and amphibole consist of chains of silica tetrahedral.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The growth of a solid from a gas or liquid whose atoms can come together in the proper chemical proportions and crystalline arrangement is called ______ .

A) bonding
B) crystallization
C) density
D) melting

Answer 3

B

Question 4

-What elements could be represented by the open and solid spheres in the mineral structure depicted above?

A) carbon and oxygen
B) silicon and oxygen
C) iron and magnesium
D) sodium and chlorine

Question 5

-Each element has a unique number of

A) protons.
B) neutrons.
C) electrons.

Question 6

-What type of chemical bonding holds the Na and Cl atoms together in table salt (NaCl)?

A) covalent bonds
B) ionic bonds
C) metallic bonds

Question 7

-A negatively charged atom is called a(n)

A) anion.
B) cation.
C) isotope.

Question 8

-Which of the following structures best depicts a silicate ion?

A) diagram A
B) diagram B
C) diagram C
D) diagram D

Question 9

-Which of the following atomic structures represents a carbonate ion?

A) diagram A
B) diagram B
C) diagram C
D) diagram D

Question 10

Silicate minerals are based on which of the following anions?

A) S^-2
B) (SiO₄)^-4
C) (CO₃)^-2

Question 11

The mineral pyroxene is an example of a ___ silicate.

A) framework
B) single chain
C) sheet

Question 12

Which of the following minerals is a carbonate?

A) calcite
B) gypsum
C) kaolinite

Question 13

Which of the following is the least reliable physical property?

A) streak
B) cleavage
C) color
D) hardness

Question 14

The hardness of a mineral depends on the

A) quality of the cleavage planes.
B) strength of the chemical bonds.
C) way the mineral reflects light.

Question 15

Which of the following minerals does not cleave?

A) calcite
B) muscovite
C) quartz

Question 16

A mineral's crystal habit refers to which physical property?

A) shape in which its individual crystals or aggregates of crystals will grow
B) orientation of cleavages surfaces in an ionically bonded crystal
C) size of the crystal

Question 17

A substance that releases hydrogen ions (H+) to a solution is called a(n)

A) oxidizer.
B) ultisol.
C) acid.

Question 18

Weathering of rocks takes place

A) deep in the Earth's crust.
B) at the surface of the Earth.
C) both of the above.

Question 19

Which does not increase the strength of a chemical bond?

A) shorter bond length
B) greater ionic charge
C) larger atoms or ions
D) closer packing of atoms or ions

Question 20

How many planes of cleavage are necessary to form cubic cleavage?

A) 1 plane
B) 2 planes
C) 3 planes
D) 4 planes

Question 21

Color is generally a good diagnostic property to use for the purposes of mineral identification.

Question 22

A basalt is an example of a(n) ___ rock.

A) igneous
B) sedimentary
C) metamorphic

Question 23

Which of the following minerals is commonly found only in metamorphic rocks?

A) feldspar
B) staurolite
C) olivine

Question 24

-The diagram above depicts how the total surface area of a rock varies with the number of particles for a fixed volume of rock. Based on this diagram, what can be said about the ratio of surface area to volume?

A) The ratio decreases as the number of particles increases.
B) The ratio increases as the number of particles increases.
C) The ratio first decreases then increases as the number of particles increases.
D) The ratio does not depend on the number of particles.

Question 25

Clastic sediments are lithified into rock by

A) cementation.
B) compaction.
C) cementation and compaction.

Question 26

Layering in sediments and sedimentary rocks is called

A) bedding.
B) foliation.
C) orogeny.

Question 27

What is the most important factor that controls the size of mineral grains in an igneous rock?

A) the rate of magma cooling
B) the magma composition
C) the plate tectonic environment
D) the iron content of the mineral

Question 28

Which of the following do all igneous rocks have in common?

A) They erupt from volcanoes.
B) They form at Earth's surface.
C) They form from the solidification of magma.
D) All of the above.

Question 29

Complete the following sentence. Extrusive igneous rocks typically have __________ minerals compared to intrusive igneous rocks.

A) more silicate
B) less silicate
C) coarser-grained
D) finer-grained

Question 30

What types of rocks form from preexisting rocks that are subjected to high temperature and pressure?

A) igneous
B) sedimentary
C) metamorphic

Question 31

Which of the following is siliciclastic sediment?

A) A coral reef
B) quartz sand
C) halite
D) gypsum

Question 32

The word "clastic" is derived from the Greek "Klastos," meaning what?

A) of the sea
B) broken
C) soft
D) of great value

Question 33

How do clay minerals form?

A) weathering of silicate minerals
B) precipitation from evaporating water
C) crystallization from magma
D) biologic precipitation from seawater

Question 34

Of the three major rock types (sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic), sedimentary rock is the least voluminous rock in the crust of Earth.

Question 35

Sandstone forms from the lithification of shells and other calcium carbonate particles.

Question 36

What process must occur before an intrusive igneous rock can be weathered?

A) uplift
B) metamorphism
C) lithification

Question 37

Deposits of minerals from which valuable metals can be recovered profitably are called

A) hydrothermal solutions.
B) ores.
C) pegmatites.

Question 38

What is the name of a mineral deposit that forms from the sedimentary processes of weathering and sediment transport?

A) vein deposit
B) hydrothermal deposit
C) placers

Question 39

Which type of ore deposit led to the California gold rush in 1848?

A) vein-hosted gold deposits
B) placer gold deposits
C) disseminated hydrothermal gold deposits

Question 40

Which of the following type(s) of rock(s) crystallize at the highest temperature?

A) basalt
B) granite
C) hydrothermal veins

Question 41

Which kind of mineral forms the largest group of ore-forming minerals?

A) silicate minerals
B) sulfide minerals
C) oxide minerals
D) sulfate minerals

Question 42

What are placer deposits?

A) ore deposits associated with groundwater aquifers
B) ore deposits found in hydrothermal veins
C) ore deposits concentrated by flowing water
D) ore deposits formed in evaporating lakes

Question 43

Some elements are geologically deposited in their pure state.

Question 44

Quartz is commonly found in vein deposits or ores.