Question 1

The mineral class that makes up more than 95% of the continental crust is termed the

Accepted Answer

A)  silicates. 
B)  carbonates. 
C)  halides. 
D)  oxides. 
A)  silicates. 
B)  carbonates. 
C)  halides. 
D)  oxides.

Question 2

Of the ~4,000 known minerals,the vast majority ___________

Accepted Answer

A)  are common. 
B)  are rare. 
C)  form only near volcanoes. 
D)  are characterized as gems. 
A)  are common. 
B)  are rare. 
C)  form only near volcanoes. 
D)  are characterized as gems.

Question 3

The color of a mineral in powdered form is termed

Accepted Answer

A)  color. 
B)  specific gravity. 
C)  luster. 
D)  streak. 
A)  color. 
B)  specific gravity. 
C)  luster. 
D)  streak.

Question 4

We distinguish between a mineral and a naturally formed glass (such as obsidian)because

Accepted Answer

A)  glass is not produced by geologic processes. 
B)  glass is organic. 
C)  glass does not have a fixed crystal structure. 
D)  glass can be made synthetically as well as occur naturally. 
A)  glass is not produced by geologic processes. 
B)  glass is organic. 
C)  glass does not have a fixed crystal structure. 
D)  glass can be made synthetically as well as occur naturally.

Question 5

The shape of single crystals or aggregates of many well-formed crystals is known as:

Accepted Answer

A)  streak 
B)  habit 
C)  luster 
D)  cleavage 
A)  streak 
B)  habit 
C)  luster 
D)  cleavage

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

A)  the ability to be synthesized in the laboratory as well as be 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). 
A)  the ability to be synthesized in the laboratory as well as be 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).

Question 7

Diamond is a polymorph of graphite.What is a polymorph,and explain how graphite is different from a diamond.

Accepted Answer

Polymorphs are minerals that have the sa

Question 8

In silicate minerals,the SiO4 tetrahedron can be linked together by sharing:

Accepted Answer

A)  silicon atoms. 
B)  cations. 
C)  electrons. 
D)  oxygen atoms. 
A)  silicon atoms. 
B)  cations. 
C)  electrons. 
D)  oxygen atoms.

Question 9

Pyrite (FeS2)is in which mineral class?

Accepted Answer

A)  silicates 
B)  carbonates 
C)  oxides 
D)  sulfides 
A)  silicates 
B)  carbonates 
C)  oxides 
D)  sulfides

Question 10

Which common gemstone results from biomineralization?

Accepted Answer

A)  diamond 
B)  garnet 
C)  pearl 
D)  sapphire 
A)  diamond 
B)  garnet 
C)  pearl 
D)  sapphire

Question 11

Minerals in geodes (as seen below)form spectacular euhedral crystals because

Accepted Answer

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. 
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.

Question 12

Which of the following describes the process of mineral dissolution?

Accepted Answer

A)  heating to a temperature where bonds between atoms break 
B)  reacting minerals with reagents to form new minerals 
C)  immersing in water such that atoms or ions separate from crystal faces 
D)  breaking apart bonds to release chemical energy for microbes 
A)  heating to a temperature where bonds between atoms break 
B)  reacting minerals with reagents to form new minerals 
C)  immersing in water such that atoms or ions separate from crystal faces 
D)  breaking apart bonds to release chemical energy for microbes

Question 13

Diamond and graphite are both polymorphs of

Accepted Answer

A)  silicon. 
B)  iron. 
C)  magnesium. 
D)  carbon. 
A)  silicon. 
B)  iron. 
C)  magnesium. 
D)  carbon.

Question 14

The gems sapphire and ruby are two varieties of the mineral corundum (Al2O3).Considering the Mohs hardness of corundum,which mineral listed below would be able to scratch the gems sapphire and ruby?

Accepted Answer

A)  quartz 
B)  feldspar 
C)  topaz 
D)  diamond 
A)  quartz 
B)  feldspar 
C)  topaz 
D)  diamond

Question 15

On the Mohs hardness scale,quartz has a hardness of 7 and calcite has a hardness of 3.This means that _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  calcite can scratch quartz 
B)  quartz is four times harder than calcite 
C)  calcite is four times harder than quartz 
D)  quartz can scratch calcite 
A)  calcite can scratch quartz 
B)  quartz is four times harder than calcite 
C)  calcite is four times harder than quartz 
D)  quartz can scratch calcite

Question 16

Crystals that exhibit well-formed faces are referred to as

Accepted Answer

A)  pristine. 
B)  anhedral. 
C)  subhedral. 
D)  euhedral. 
A)  pristine. 
B)  anhedral. 
C)  subhedral. 
D)  euhedral.

Question 17

Silicate minerals are subdivided into six groups based on the way silica tetrahedra are

Accepted Answer

A)  bonded to anions. 
B)  bonded to iron atoms. 
C)  arranged and bonded. 
D)  arranged and charged. 
A)  bonded to anions. 
B)  bonded to iron atoms. 
C)  arranged and bonded. 
D)  arranged and charged.

Question 18

The atomic number of an element corresponds to the __________

Accepted Answer

A)  number of electrons. 
B)  number of protons. 
C)  number of neutrons. 
D)  total weight of one atom. 
A)  number of electrons. 
B)  number of protons. 
C)  number of neutrons. 
D)  total weight of one atom.

Question 19

Which of the following common minerals is softest?

Accepted Answer

A)  quartz 
B)  calcite 
C)  talc 
D)  fluorite 
A)  quartz 
B)  calcite 
C)  talc 
D)  fluorite

Question 20

The atomic mass of an element approximately equals the number of

Accepted Answer

A)  electrons. 
B)  protons plus neutrons. 
C)  neutrons. 
D)  protons. 
A)  electrons. 
B)  protons plus neutrons. 
C)  neutrons. 
D)  protons.

Exam 3: Patterns in Nature: Minerals

The mineral class that makes up more than 95% of the continental crust is termed the

Of the ~4,000 known minerals,the vast majority ___________

The color of a mineral in powdered form is termed

We distinguish between a mineral and a naturally formed glass (such as obsidian)because

The shape of single crystals or aggregates of many well-formed crystals is known as:

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

Diamond is a polymorph of graphite.What is a polymorph,and explain how graphite is different from a diamond.

In silicate minerals,the SiO4 tetrahedron can be linked together by sharing:

Pyrite (FeS2)is in which mineral class?

Which common gemstone results from biomineralization?

Minerals in geodes (as seen below)form spectacular euhedral crystals because

Which of the following describes the process of mineral dissolution?

Diamond and graphite are both polymorphs of

The gems sapphire and ruby are two varieties of the mineral corundum (Al2O3).Considering the Mohs hardness of corundum,which mineral listed below would be able to scratch the gems sapphire and ruby?

On the Mohs hardness scale,quartz has a hardness of 7 and calcite has a hardness of 3.This means that _______.

Crystals that exhibit well-formed faces are referred to as

Silicate minerals are subdivided into six groups based on the way silica tetrahedra are

The atomic number of an element corresponds to the __________

Which of the following common minerals is softest?

The atomic mass of an element approximately equals the number of

The Earth in Context

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions

Pages of the Earths Past: Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism: a Process of Change

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Crags,cracks,and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of the Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements

Streams and Floods: the Geology of Running Water

Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts

A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater

Dry Regions: the Geology of Deserts

Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages

Global Change in the Earth System

Introducing Rocks

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Soils

The Rock Cycle

The Earth’s Interior Revisited: Insights from Geophysics

Memories of Past Life: Fossils and Evolution

Ever-Changing Landscapes and the Hydrologic Cycle

Prelude: And Just What is Geology?

Filters

In silicate minerals,the SiO₄ tetrahedron can be linked together by sharing:

Pyrite (FeS₂)is in which mineral class?

The gems sapphire and ruby are two varieties of the mineral corundum (Al₂O₃).Considering the Mohs hardness of corundum,which mineral listed below would be able to scratch the gems sapphire and ruby?