Quiz on Minerals

Q1. All silicate minerals contain

A. silicon

B. silicon and oxygen

C. aluminum, silicon and oxygen

D. iron, silicon and oxygen

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Q2. The silica tetrahedron consists of

A. one oxygen surrounded by 3 silicons

B. one oxygen surrounded by 2 silicons and 1 aluminum

C. one silicon surrounded by 3 oxygens

D. one silicon surrounded by 4 oxygens

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Q3. The most common ion in earth's crust is

A. silicon

B. oxygen

C. aluminum

D. iron

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Q4. Which of the following is a carbonate mineral?

A. garnet

B. hematite

C. pyroxene

D. calcite

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Q5. Framework silicates, sheet silicates, and chain silicates are example of divisions in a silicate mineral classification scheme based on

A. crystal structure

B. chemical composition

C. how the mineral formed

D. the temperature at which the mineral formed

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Q6. Clay minerals are

A. single-chain silicates

B. double-chain silicates

C. sheet silicates

D. framework silicates

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Q7. Which of the following is a mafic silicate mineral?

A. amphibole

B. quartz

C. plagioclase

D. pyrite

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Q8. You are given an unknown mineral to identify. You perform a hardness test by scratching it with your fingernail. You are able to leave a scratch mark on it, so you conclude that

A. the mineral is very hard

B. the mineral is harder than 2 to 2 1/2 on the Moh's scale

C. the mineral is softer than 2 to 2 1/2 on the Moh's scale

D. the mineral is talc

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Q9. To describe a mineral's streak you

A. see if it leaves a mark on a streak plate

B. describe the mineral's color

C. describe the mineral's breakage surfaces

D. describe the color of the mark it leavs on a streak plate

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Q10. How do you determine whether a mineral has cleavage?

A. look for flat, smooth, shiny surfaces

B. look for flat, smooth, shiny breakage surfaces

C. describe all breakage surfaces

D. determine whether breakage surfaces are at right angles to each other

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Q11. Which of the following is often the least reliable indicator of a mineral's identity?

A. cleavage

B. hardness

C. color

D. streak

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Q12. Which mineral fizzes readily in dilute acid?

A. quartz

B. feldspar

C. calcite

D. gypsum

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Q13. Which of the following statements about minerals is not true?

A. they are all crystalline

B. they are all solids

C. no two minerals can have the same chemical composition

D. the chemical composition of a mineral may vary, but within known limits

Check your answer

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A1. All silicate minerals contain

A. silicon

B. silicon and oxygen

C. aluminum, silicon and oxygen

D. iron, silicon and oxygen

Answer: B

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A2. The silica tetrahedron consists of

A. one oxygen surrounded by 3 silicons

B. one oxygen surrounded by 2 silicons and 1 aluminum

C. one silicon surrounded by 3 oxygens

D. one silicon surrounded by 4 oxygens

Answer: D

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A3. The most common ion in earth's crust is

A. silicon

B. oxygen

C. aluminum

D. iron

Answer: B

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A4. Which of the following is a carbonate mineral?

A. garnet

B. hematite

C. pyroxene

D. calcite

Answer: D; garnet and pyroxene are silicates and hematite is iron oxide

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A5. Framework silicates, sheet silicates, and chain silicates are example of divisions in a silicate mineral classification scheme based on

A. crystal structure

B. chemical composition

C. how the mineral formed

D. the temperature at which the mineral formed

Answer: A

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A6. Clay minerals are

A. single-chain silicates

B. double-chain silicates

C. sheet silicates

D. framework silicates

Answer: C

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A7. Which of the following is a mafic silicate mineral?

A. amphibole

B. quartz

C. plagioclase

D. pyrite

Answer: A (quartz and plagioclase are non-mafic silicates; pyrite is not a silicate)

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A8. You are given an unknown mineral to identify. You perform a hardness test by scratching it with your fingernail. You are able to leave a scratch mark on it, so you conclude that

A. the mineral is very hard

B. the mineral is harder than 2 to 2 1/2 on the Moh's scale

C. the mineral is softer than 2 to 2 1/2 on the Moh's scale

D. the mineral is talc

Answer: C (fingernails have hardness of 2 to 2 1/2, so anything scratched by fingernails is softer than fingernail's hardness)

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A9. To describe a mineral's streak you

A. see if it leaves a mark on a streak plate

B. describe the mineral's color

C. describe the mineral's breakage surfaces

D. describe the color of the mark it leavs on a streak plate

Answer: D

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A10. How do you determine whether a mineral has cleavage?

A. look for flat, smooth, shiny surfaces

B. look for flat, smooth, shiny breakage surfaces

C. describe all breakage surfaces

D. determine whether breakage surfaces are at right angles to each other

Answer: B (remember cleavage surfaces are a special type of breakage surface)

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A11. Which of the following is often the least reliable indicator of a mineral's identity?

A. cleavage

B. hardness

C. color

D. streak

Answer: C

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A12. Which mineral fizzes readily in dilute acid?

A. quartz

B. feldspar

C. calcite

D. gypsum

Answer: C

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A13. Which of the following statements about minerals is not true?

A. they are all crystalline

B. they are all solids

C. no two minerals can have the same chemical composition

D. the chemical composition of a mineral may vary, but within known limits

Answer: C (2 minerals can have same composition if they have different crystal structure)

That's the end of this quiz!

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