Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a mineral?
A) petroleum (oil), which is a liquid
B) cubic zirconia, which is a synthetic diamond substitute that is not found in nature
C) ice, which is water in the solid state (and water is essential to all organic life on
Earth)
D) both A and B are not minerals; however, C is a mineral

Accepted Answer

Petroleum is not a mineral because it is organic and liquid. Cubic zirconia is not a mineral because it is synthetic and not naturally occurring. Ice is considered a mineral because it is naturally occurring, inorganic, and has a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Question 2

Which common mineral is found in most kitchens?
A) flour
B) sugar
C) halite
D) mustard

Accepted Answer

Halite is also known as table salt, which is a common mineral found in most kitchens. Flour, sugar, and mustard are not minerals.

Question 3

When in contact with hydrochloric acid,which mineral gives off bubbles of carbon dioxide gas?
A) quartz
B) halite
C) calcite
D) fluorite

Accepted Answer

Calcite reacts with hydrochloric acid to produce bubbles of carbon dioxide gas.

Question 4

The most abundant minerals belong to a chemical group termed the ____________.
A) silicates
B) carbonates
C) halides
D) oxides

Accepted Answer

Silicates are by far the most abundant mineral group on Earth, making up over 90% of the crust. They contain silicon and oxygen as their main components and form various minerals such as feldspar, quartz, and mica. Carbonates, halides, and oxides are also common mineral groups, but they are not as abundant as silicates.

Question 5

All minerals are held together by ionic bonds.

Accepted Answer

Minerals can have different types of bonds, including ionic bonds, covalent bonds, metallic bonds, and van der Waals forces.

Question 6

Minerals are all naturally occurring solid substances with a definable chemical composition.They must also possess ____________.
A) an ability to be synthesized in the laboratory as well as being found in nature
B) metallic elements, such as iron, calcium, or magnesium
C) metallic luster
D) a fixed crystalline structure (spatial arrangement of atoms and ions)

Accepted Answer

The fixed crystalline structure (spatial arrangement of atoms and ions) is a defining characteristic of minerals. The other options are not necessary for a substance to be classified as a mineral.

Question 7

Two distinct minerals may have the same chemical formula.

Accepted Answer

This is because minerals can have the same chemical formula, but their crystal structures may be different, leading to different physical properties. For example, both halite (rock salt) and sylvite have the chemical formula NaCl, but halite has a cubic crystal structure while sylvite has an orthorhombic crystal structure.

Question 8

It is rare for mineral crystals to display any sort of symmetry (invariance of pattern with respect to a transformation,such as rotation or mirror-image reflection).

Accepted Answer

It is actually common for mineral crystals to display symmetry, as they are governed by the principles of crystallography which dictate specific patterns of symmetry.

Question 9

The most useful diagnostic property of minerals is their color in hand sample.

Accepted Answer

Color alone cannot identify a mineral with certainty as many minerals can have a similar color but different chemical compositions. Other key diagnostic properties include hardness, cleavage/fracture, luster, specific gravity, and crystal form.

Question 10

The shininess of a mineral is a helpful diagnostic property termed ____________.
A) color
B) specific gravity
C) luster
D) streak

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe the shininess of a mineral is luster, therefore the correct choice is C. Color, specific gravity, and streak are other properties used to identify minerals, but they do not relate to the shininess of a mineral.

Question 11

Ore minerals,such as galena and hematite,tend to be distinct in their very ____________.
A) dark coloration
B) diamond-like crystal habit
C) great specific gravity
D) vitreous luster

Accepted Answer

Specific gravity is a measure of density and is defined as the ratio of the mass of a substance to the mass of an equal volume of water at 4°C. Ore minerals, such as galena (lead sulfide) and hematite (iron oxide), tend to have a high specific gravity due to their high density. This makes them distinct from other minerals and easier to identify.

Question 12

Natural glass is not considered a mineral because it ____________.
A) is not produced by geologic processes
B) is organic
C) does not have fixed crystalline structure
D) can be made synthetically as well as being a naturally occurring substance

Accepted Answer

The definition of a mineral includes having a fixed crystalline structure. Natural glass does not have this structure and therefore cannot be classified as a mineral.

Question 13

The silica tetrahedron that forms the backbone of all the silicate minerals is composed of silicon and what other element?
A) magnesium
B) oxygen
C) iron
D) carbon

Accepted Answer

The silica tetrahedron is composed of one silicon atom and four oxygen atoms. Therefore, the backbone of all silicate minerals is composed of silicon and oxygen.

Question 14

Minerals utilized by humans as a source of metal are termed ____________.
A) metallic minerals
B) ore minerals
C) source minerals

Accepted Answer

Ore minerals are minerals that are economically significant, as they are used as a source of metal by humans. Metallic minerals and source minerals are not specific to this context.

Question 15

For the majority of minerals,the streak color obtained when the mineral is scratched against a porcelain plate is ____________.
A) likely to be diagnostic only if the mineral is hard enough to scratch porcelain
B) more variable than the color in hand sample among crystals
C) less variable than the color in hand sample among crystals
D) always dark brown or black

Accepted Answer

Streak color is usually less variable than the color in hand sample among crystals, as it is often determined by the actual color of the mineral's powder. Streak color is obtained when a mineral is scratched against a porcelain plate, which breaks down the mineral's crystal structure and exposes its powder form. This can reveal a consistent color that may differ from any variations in color seen among different crystal faces. Streak color can be useful for identifying minerals because it is not affected by impurities or weathering that may alter the appearance of the mineral's surface.

Question 16

A single mineral may take on multiple crystalline lattice structures.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A single mineral may take on multiple...

Question 17

Diamond and graphite are both polymorphs of pure silicon.

Accepted Answer

Diamond and graphite are not polymorphs of pure silicon, they are polymorphs of pure carbon.

Question 18

Cleavage in minerals refers to ____________.
A) a tendency to break in an irregular pattern
B) a tendency to break along planes of weakness
C) the sharpness of edges between crystal faces
D) the development of distinct crystal faces

Accepted Answer

Cleavage in minerals refers to a tendency to break along planes of weakness. It is a property that is determined by the arrangement of atoms within the crystal lattice. When a mineral is subjected to stress, it will break along the planes of weakness, resulting in cleavage. This property is used as a diagnostic tool for mineral identification.

Question 19

Minerals in geodes form spectacular euhedral crystals because ____________.
A) all of the elements incorporated in the crystals are in plentiful supply
B) the crystals have abundant room to grow in their hollow surroundings
C) minerals within geodes are always framework silicates
D) minerals within geodes always contain iron

Accepted Answer

Geodes provide a unique and protected environment for minerals to grow without interference. The hollow space provides abundant room for crystal growth in all directions, resulting in large, well-formed crystals with distinct geometrical shapes. This is why minerals in geodes often form euhedral crystals. The other answer choices are not accurate, as the availability of minerals, the presence of framework silicates, and the inclusion of iron do not necessarily determine the formation of euhedral crystals in geodes.

Question 20

All minerals are chemical compounds (composed of more than one element).

Accepted Answer

The answer of All minerals are chemical compounds (composed of...

Quiz 3: Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Which of the following is NOT a mineral?

Which common mineral is found in most kitchens?

When in contact with hydrochloric acid,which mineral gives off bubbles of carbon dioxide gas?

The most abundant minerals belong to a chemical group termed the ____________.

All minerals are held together by ionic bonds.

Minerals are all naturally occurring solid substances with a definable chemical composition.They must also possess ____________.

Two distinct minerals may have the same chemical formula.

It is rare for mineral crystals to display any sort of symmetry (invariance of pattern with respect to a transformation,such as rotation or mirror-image reflection).

The most useful diagnostic property of minerals is their color in hand sample.

The shininess of a mineral is a helpful diagnostic property termed ____________.

Ore minerals,such as galena and hematite,tend to be distinct in their very ____________.

Natural glass is not considered a mineral because it ____________.

The silica tetrahedron that forms the backbone of all the silicate minerals is composed of silicon and what other element?

Minerals utilized by humans as a source of metal are termed ____________.

For the majority of minerals,the streak color obtained when the mineral is scratched against a porcelain plate is ____________.

A single mineral may take on multiple crystalline lattice structures.

Diamond and graphite are both polymorphs of pure silicon.

Cleavage in minerals refers to ____________.

Minerals in geodes form spectacular euhedral crystals because ____________.

All minerals are chemical compounds (composed of more than one element).