Deck 2: Minerals

Question 1

From __________ __________, metals or other elements can be recovered profitably.

Answer 1

ore minerals

Question 2

Feldspar is a __________ mineral.

A) silicate
B) clay
C) oxide
D) carbonate

Answer 2

A

Question 3

A/an __________ __________ is a planar surface that develops if a crystal grows freely without obstructions.

Answer 3

crystal face

Question 4

Every silicon atom surrounds itself with __________ oxygens in a silica tetrahedron.

Question 5

A group of minerals that crystallize as long, thin fibers and are carcinogenic is called __________.
A synthetic diamond is not a true mineral because it __________.
a. is not a solid
b. does not have a crystalline structure
c. is not formed by natural processes
d. does not have a definite chemical composition

Question 6

A positively charged ion is a __________.

Question 7

Ninety-two percent of the Earth's crust is composed of __________ minerals.

Question 8

__________ __________ is the weight of a substance relative to that of an equal volume of water.

Question 9

The silicate tetrahedron consists of __________ surrounded by __________.

A) four central silicon ions, one oxygen ion
B) four central oxygen ions, four silicon ions
C) one central oxygen ion, three silicon ions
D) one central silicon ion, four oxygen ions

Question 10

A/an __________ is a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a characteristic chemical composition and a crystalline structure.

Question 11

A/an __________ is a mineral that is prized for its rarity and beauty.

Question 12

Minerals whose chemical elements include carbon and oxygen as a major part of their chemical composition are called __________.

Question 13

__________ __________ are a small class of minerals, including gold and silver.

Question 14

__________ __________is the characteristic shape of an individual crystal.

Question 15

Two common carbonate minerals are __________ and __________.

A) calcite, feldspar
B) calcite, dolomite
C) quartz, galena
D) dolomite, quartz

Question 16

__________ is the color of a fine powder of a mineral.

Question 17

A scale that compares the resistance of the surfaces of minerals to scratching is __________ __________ __________.

Question 18

The tendency of some minerals to break along flat surfaces is called __________.

Question 19

Two ore minerals that are commonly comprised of pure metals and contain only a single element are native __________ and __________.

A) gold, silver
B) galena, silver
C) quartz, gold
D) silver, olivine

Question 20

A mineral that is valued for its beauty rather than for industrial use is a/an __________.

A) accessory mineral
B) ore mineral
C) gem
D) rock-forming mineral

Question 21

Ninety-two percent of the Earth's crust is composed of __________ minerals.

A) silicate
B) sulfide
C) oxide
D) carbonate

Question 22

Which of the following describes a crystal?

A) a substance whose atoms are arranged irregularly
B) a substance whose atoms are arranged in a regular, orderly, periodically repeated pattern
C) any pure substance
D) any solid containing randomly oriented sodium and chlorine ions

Question 23

Quartz is composed of __________.

A) silicon and oxygen
B) silicon and iron
C) iron and oxygen
D) silicon and aluminum

Question 24

The basic unit of all silicates is the __________.

A) oxygen chamber
B) silicate triangle
C) silicate chain
D) silicate tetrahedron

Question 25

Which of the following is not an ore mineral?

A) feldspar
B) galena
C) gold
D) copper

Question 26

Radon forms by the radioactive decay of __________.

A) gold
B) sodium
C) platinum
D) uranium
Multiple Choice

Question 27

Which of the following is not a rock-forming mineral?

A) pyroxene
B) feldspar
C) galena
D) quartz

Question 28

Calcite is a/an:

A) silicate mineral.
B) clay mineral.
C) oxide mineral.
D) carbonate mineral.

Question 29

Minerals are classified according to their:

A) streak.
B) chemical elements.
C) specific weight.
D) luster.

Question 30

Quartz makes up __________ percent of the Earth's crust.

A) more than 50
B) 32
C) 12
D) 0.1

Question 31

The two most abundant elements in Earth's crust are __________.

A) oxygen (O) and silicon (Si)
B) oxygen (O) and lead (Pb)
C) silicon (Si) and nickel (Ni)
D) lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni)

Question 32

Halite (table salt) is composed of __________.

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

Question 33

Hardness is:

A) the resistance of a mineral to fracture.
B) the resistance of a mineral to shattering.
C) dependent on a mineral's flexibility.
D) the resistance of a mineral to scratching.

Question 34

How many chemical elements occur naturally in the Earth's crust?

A) 8
B) 40
C) 88
D) 108

Question 35

Which physical properties distinguish a particular mineral from all others?

A) fracture and faceting
B) specific gravity
C) chemical composition and crystalline structure
D) streak and luster

Question 36

__________ __________ is the weight of a substance relative to that of an equal volume of water.

A) Specific volume
B) Specific gravity
C) Specific luster
D) Specific composition

Question 37

Limestone is a:

A) sulfide mineral.
B) phosphate mineral.
C) silicate mineral.
D) carbonate mineral.

Question 38

Which of the following does not describe a mineral?

A) a fundamental form of matter that cannot be broken into simpler substances by ordinary chemical processes
B) the building blocks of rocks
C) a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a characteristic chemical composition and a crystalline structure
D) natural gems

Question 39

Which of the following best describes an element?

A) a small, dense, positively charged subatomic particle
B) a fundamental form of matter that can be broken into simpler substances by ordinary chemical processes
C) a fundamental form of matter that cannot be broken into simpler substances by ordinary chemical processes
D) a naturally occurring inorganic solid with a characteristic chemical composition and a crystalline structure

Question 40

On the Mohs hardness scale, diamond has the value __________.

A) 1
B) 5
C) 10
D) 100

Question 41

Which one of the following is not a mineral?

A) synthetic diamond
B) feldspar
C) ice crystal
D) quartz

Question 42

On the Mohs hardness scale, the hardest mineral is:

A) gypsum.
B) feldspar.
C) quartz.
D) diamond.

Question 43

Copper, lead, and zinc commonly form:

A) native elements.
B) gems.
C) sulfide ore minerals.
D) carbonate minerals.
True/False
It is not necessary for a substance to be a solid to be a mineral.
Ice is a mineral.
Synthetic diamond is a mineral.
An element cannot be broken into smaller substances by ordinary chemical processes.
Halite (table salt) is composed of sodium and chlorine ions.
Only eight elements-oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium-make up more than 98 percent of the Earth's crust.
Quartz consists of silicon and calcium.
Only atoms with a positive charge are called ions.
A substance in which atoms are arranged without a regular, orderly, periodically repeated pattern is called a crystal.
Cleavage is the tendency of some minerals to break along flat surfaces.
Fracture is the resistance of a mineral to scratching.
Calcite is the hardest mineral.
Most rock-forming minerals are silicates.

Question 44

Feldspar makes up:

A) about 50 percent of the Earth's crust.
B) 10 percent of the Earth's crust.
C) about 35 percent of the Earth's crust.
D) 0.05 percent of the Earth's crust.

Question 45

Rocks and minerals in their natural state are never harmful to humans and other organisms.

Question 46

Gold and silver are examples of native elements.

Question 47

It is not necessary for a substance to be a solid to be a mineral.

Question 48

Ice is a mineral.

Question 49

Synthetic diamond is a mineral.

Question 50

An element cannot be broken into smaller substances by ordinary chemical processes.

Question 51

Halite (table salt) is composed of sodium and chlorine ions.

Question 52

Only eight elements-oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium-make up more than 98 percent of the Earth's crust.

Question 53

Quartz consists of silicon and calcium.

Question 54

Only atoms with a positive charge are called ions.

Question 55

A substance in which atoms are arranged without a regular, orderly, periodically repeated pattern is called a crystal.

Question 56

Cleavage is the tendency of some minerals to break along flat surfaces.

Question 57

Fracture is the resistance of a mineral to scratching.

Question 58

Calcite is the hardest mineral.

Question 59

Most rock-forming minerals are silicates.