CHUNKY

MINERALS

5 PARTS TO THE DEFINITION OF A MINERAL

1. Not man made

Answer: Naturally occurring

2. Is not now, and was never alive.

Answer: Inorganic

3. Not a liquid or gas

Answer: Solid

4. Ratio of elements forming a compound

Answer: definite chemical composition

5. crystalline structure

Answer: Internal arrangement of atoms

MINERAL IDENTIFICATION

6. The way something reflects light

Answer: luster

7. Resistance to being scratched

Answer: hardness

8. Breakage in flat planes

Answer: cleavage

9. Breakage not along flat planes

Answer: fracture

10. Color of the mineral’s powder

Answer: streak

11. Is color a useful identifying characteristic

Answer: No

12. An easy test for calcite

Answer: apply acid

13. This mineral has cubic cleavage and is used to melt ice

Answer: halite

14. The most abundant mineral in beach sand

Answer: quartz

15. All of the characteristics of a mineral are related to its . . .

Answer: Internal arrangement of atoms

16. Another name for Amphibole

Answer: hornblende

17. This elements chemical symbol is Mg.

Answer: magnesium

18. Nonmetalic luster, 2.5, cleavage, KAl3Si3O10(OH) 2

Answer: Muscovite Mica

19. What elements give Biotite Mica a black or dark brown color?

Answer: Mg, Fe – magnesium and iron

20. What property of a diamond allows diamond powder to be used to shape other gems?

Answer: hardness

21. Which mineral with nonmetalic luster can scratch calcite but not fluorite?

Answer: Dolomite

22. Which element is in 15 of the 21 minerals on pg 16?

Answer: Oxygen