Quiz 4: Properties of Minerals

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Choose the best possible answer to the following questions about Key Concept 4 "Primary and secondary diagnostic properties of minerals."

This activity contains 12 questions.

How is a mineral such as quartz physically different from all other minerals based upon the combination of its crystalline structure and chemical composition?

Every mineral has a similar set of physical properties.Every mineral has a unique set of physical properties.Some minerals have a unique set of physical properties.Some minerals have a similar set of physical properties.

Which of the following is not a reliable physical property of minerals?

ColorHardnessTranslucencySpecific gravityCleavage

Why are physical properties such as hardness useful to geologists to identify minerals?

Physical properties are controlled by the mineral's bond strength, which is distinct in each mineral.Physical properties are controlled by the mineral's chemical composition, which is distinct in each mineral.Physical properties are controlled by the mineral's hardness, which is distinct in each mineral.Physical properties are controlled by the mineral's chemical composition and atomic structure, This combination is distinct in each mineral.

Which of the following is not considered a primary diagnostic property of minerals?

Streak.Magnetism.Cleavage.Hardness.

What is the difference between a “primary” diagnostic property and a “special” property of a mineral?

A primary property is one that most minerals possess, whereas a special property is found in all minerals.A special property is one that all minerals possess but only under certain circumstances, whereas a special property is found in only one or a few minerals all of the time.A primary property is one that all minerals possess, whereas a special property is found in only one or a few minerals.A special property is one that all minerals possess, whereas a primary property is found in only one or a few minerals.

What controls a mineral’s property of hardness?

The interference of impurities in a mineral.The ability of a mineral to absorb light.The strength of the atomic bonds within the mineral.The resistance to breaking.

quartz.
Why does quartz have a higher hardness than calcite?

Quartz is a silicate mineral, whereas calcite is a carbonate mineral.Calcite has a higher proportion of covalent bonds than ionic bonds than does quartz.Quartz has all ionic bonds, and calcite has all covalent bonds.Quartz has a higher proportion of covalent bonds than ionic bonds than does calcite.

What about a mineral would control its property to cleave or fracture?

The alignment of covalent bonds into curved surfaces or not in the atomic structure.The alignment of ionic bonds into planes or not in the atomic structure.The chemical composition of the mineral.The alignment of ionic bonds into curved surfaces or not in the atomic structure.

	Within the question text below, there is one text entry field where you can enter your answer. $quartz_conc_frac_tarbuck_rshad.jpg$ Most glasses and some minerals (like quartz, shown in the figure) exhibit a type of fracture characterized by nested and curved, cracked surfaces. What term describes this property?

Which of the following is not a reason why calcite and halite both have the same number of cleavage planes (3), but at different angles?

different elemental compositiondifferent conditions of formationdifferent bonding geometry between cations and anion complexesdifferent crystal structure

Match the following definitions with the appropriate diagnostic property.

A matching question presents 4 answer choices and 4 items. The answer choices are lettered A through D. The items are numbered 11.1 through 11.4. Screen readers will read the answer choices first. Then each item will be presented along with a select menu for choosing an answer choice. Using the pull-down menus, match each item in the left column to the corresponding item in the right column.

	the tendency of a mineral to break along smooth planar surfaces
	the color of a mineral in its powdered form
	the non-planar manner in which a mineral breaks
	appearance or quality of reflected light from the surface of a mineral

11.1 luster
11.2 streak
11.3 cleavage
11.4 fracture

The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is a relative scale of _________.

the mineral's crystalline solid formthe mineral's reaction with acidresistance to abrasion (scratching)number of different atoms in the atomic structure

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