Deck 2: Matter and Minerals

Question 1

Which electrons are responsible for most chemical bonding?

A) innermost electron shell because the electrons can be transferred to the nucleus
B) middle electron shell because they are intermediate in distance between the nucleus and the adjacent atom that bonds with the atom
C) outer electron shell because these electrons can be readily exchanged with adjacent atoms
D) Any electron can exchange with adjacent atoms to form a bond; there is no preference.

Answer 1

outer electron shell because these electrons can be readily exchanged with adjacent atoms

Question 2

The first minerals to be mined over 6000 years ago. were _______ and_______ .

A) lead; quartz
B) gold; silver
C) copper; bronze
D) flint; chert

Answer 2

flint; chert

Question 3

Which of the following is not a fundamental particle found in atoms?

A) electron
B) neutron
C) protons
D) selectron

Answer 3

selectron

Question 4

Which of the following best defines a mineral and a rock?

A) A rock consists of atoms bonded in a regular, geometrically predictable arrangement; a mineral is a consolidated aggregate of different rock particles.
B) A rock has an orderly, repetitive, geometrical, internal arrangement of minerals; a mineral is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of rocks.
C) A mineral consists of its constituent atoms arranged in a geometrically repetitive structure; in a rock, the atoms are randomly bonded without any geometric pattern.
D) In a mineral the constituent atoms are bonded in a regular, repetitive, internal structure; a rock is a lithified or consolidated aggregate of different mineral grains.

Question 5

Atoms of the same element, zinc for example, have the same number of ____.

A) protons in the nucleus
B) neutrons in the outer nuclear shell
C) electrons in the valence bond level
D) electrons in the nucleus

Question 6

Use the Periodic table below to answer the following questions:


-Element 20, Ca, has what chemical property?

A) It tends to form covalent bonds and an ion with a charge of +1.
B) It behaves as a nonmetal, accepting electrons to form an ion with charge - 2.
C) It tends to be inert, and thus is dispersed throughout the crust.
D) It behaves as a metal ion, giving up two electrons to form a +2 ion.

Question 7

When Calcium Ca. bonds with oxygen, it gives up two electrons. What is the charge of the Ca ion in this compound?

A) - 2
B) - 1
C) +2
D) +1

Question 8

Heavy elements like Pb lead. and U Uranium. were generated_______ .

A) by the Sun and expelled to the solar system via the solar wind
B) during collapse of a star and subsequent nuclear synthesis in a supernova
C) by humans in nuclear reactors
D) during the big band when the universe was formed

Question 9

The basic building blocks for halite________ are and______ .

A) Na; Cl
B) Ca; K
C) Al; O
D) C; Si

Question 10

Why are boulders not a mineral?

A) They are organic.
B) They are not naturally occurring.
C) They are not solid.
D) They do not have an orderly crystalline structure.
E) They do not have a well- defined chemical composition.

Question 11

An atom's mass number is 13 and its atomic number is 6. How many neutrons are in its nucleus?

A) 13
B) 6
C) 7
D) 19

Question 12

Be is to Mg as_________ .

A) K is to Mg
B) K is to Rb
C) Ti is to F
D) Ti is to V

Question 13

Which the following denotes the positively charged particles in an atom's nucleus?

A) protons
B) electrons
C) neutrons
D) isotrons

Question 14

Limestone is composed almost entirely of calcite, which has the chemical formula CaCO₃. As a result, limestone is classified as____________ .

A) a rock
B) a mineral
C) both a mineral and a rock
D) neither a mineral nor a rock because it is organic

Question 15

Which one of the following is not true for minerals?

A) They can be identified by characteristic physical properties.
B) They can be a liquid, solid, or gas.
C) They have a specific, internal, crystalline structure.
D) Many have a specific, predictable chemical composition.

Question 16

Which of the following minerals is not a chemical compound?

A) quartz SiO₂.
B) graphite C.
C) pyrite FeS.
D) halite NaCl.

Question 17

Use the Periodic table below to answer the following questions:


-Element 17 Cl. and 9

A) behave as metals because they lie on the right side of the periodic table
B) are chemically similar because they lie directly below each other on the periodic table
C) are chemically relatively inert because they adjacent to the inert gases on the periodic table
D) are chemically very different because they lie directly below each other on the periodic table

Question 18

Which of the following is a mineral as defined by a geologist?

A) concrete
B) salt
C) sugar
D) boulder
E) water

Question 19

Which of the following is not a criterion for defining something as a mineral?

A) naturally occurring
B) generally inorganic
C) orderly crystalline structure
D) hard

Question 20

In 1960 the largest gold producer was South Africa. Now it is____________ .

A) Russia
B) China
C) India
D) Brazil

Question 21

What mineral is the hardest known substance in nature?

A) muscovite
B) silicate
C) native gold
D) diamond

Question 22

Geologists may choose to lick a mineral to identify it. What mineral is the geologist expecting with this test?

A) NaCl halite. or KCl sylvite.
B) a sulfide bearing rock which will taste like rotten eggs
C) None, it clears the dust off the sample so he/she can see if more clearly.
D) None, they are clearing the hydrochloric acid from the sample to rerun a test for calcite.

Question 23

Which mineral reacts readily with cool, dilute hydrochloric acid to produce visible bubbles of carbon dioxide gas?

A) calcite
B) gypsum
C) quartz
D) plagioclase

Question 24

The bond between two hydrogen atoms a covalent bond. is based on the force of attraction between____________ .

A) two nuclei
B) two ions
C) two atoms
D) protons and electrons in the same atom

Question 25

The strong tendency of certain minerals to break along smooth, parallel planes is known as_________ .

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

Question 26

Atoms that have an electrical charge due to a gain or loss of electrons are called _____

A) isotopes
B) ions
C) periodic elements
D) isochrons

Question 27

When electrons are shared amongst all atoms, the resulting bond is an__________ bond.

A) covalent
B) ionic
C) metallic
D) partial

Question 28

When a mineral fractures along a cleavage plane, what does this suggest about the crystal structure of the mineral?

A) The crystal grows only planar faces that become weak zones that form cleavage.
B) The crystal contains warped planes called twin planes that weaken the crystal structure and allow it fracture along a planar surface, causing cleavage.
C) The atoms are arranged in a simple orderly arrangement with uniform bonding.
D) The crystal structure contains planes along which chemical bonding is much weaker than other directions.

Question 29

The bond between sodium Na. and Chlorine Cl. to form halite salt. is an___________ bond.

A) covalent
B) valent
C) ionic
D) metallic

Question 30

Angles are important when looking at which physical properties of minerals?

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

Question 31

Which of the following physical properties is not generally used to identify most minerals?

A) cleavage
B) smell
C) hardness
D) luster

Question 32

The resistance of a mineral to abrasion is known as ____________.

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

Question 33

The most unreliable variable. diagnostic property of minerals such as quartz is__________ .

A) habit
B) color
C) specific gravity
D) hardness

Question 34

The columns of the periodic table divide atoms by their_____________ .

A) number of valence electrons
B) number of neutrons
C) atomic mass
D) number of protons

Question 35

1 gram is defined as the mass of 1 cubic centimeter of water. A cubic centimeter of quartz weighs 2.65 g and a cubic centimeter of galena weighs 7.5 g. The density of these materials from highest to lowest is__________ .

A) galena, quartz, water
B) water, quartz, galena
C) galena, water, quartz
D) quartz, galena, water

Question 36

Which of the following describes the light reflecting and transmission characteristics of a mineral?

A) luster
B) fluorescence
C) color streak
D) virtual absorption

Question 37

Atoms that share electrons have an___________ bond.

A) metallic
B) covalent
C) ionic
D) partial

Question 38

Changing the number of neutrons in an atom will affect its_______________ .

A) charge
B) atomic number
C) atomic weight
D) All of the above

Question 39

What does the tendency of micas to produce thin cleavage flakes suggest about its crystal structure?

A) The structure is characterized by rings that form an interlocking network, forming planar sheets.
B) The crystal structure is characterized by complex polymerized mats that form a sheetlike structure.
C) The structure is produced by flow in the igneous rock, aligning glass layers within the crystal structure.
D) The atoms are arranged in orderly arrangements that form strongly bonded sheets separated by weak bonds between the sheets.

Question 40

Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons until they are surrounded by ____________valence electrons.

A) 8
B) 2
C) 5
D) 4

Question 41

Sulfates always include__________ .

A) Cl^{- 1}, F^{- 1}, or Br^{- 1}
B) SO₄^{- 2}
C) CO₃^{- 2}
D) SiO₄^{- 4}

Question 42

Why do the minerals calcite and dolomite bubble with the mineral or its powder are placed in hydrochloric acid?

A) Both minerals are metal hydrides, and when placed in hydrochloric acid they give off hydrogen gas.
B) Both minerals are sulfides, and the acid reacts to release sulfur dioxide gas.
C) The acid reacts with the mineral to release CO₂ gas that is bound into the crystal as carbonate ion.
D) The acid and the mineral together react with oxygen in the air, releasing CO₂ gas.

Question 43

Clay is an example of_____________ .

A) a sulfate that forms from weathering of other sulfates
B) a carbonate that forms from weathering of other carbonates
C) a silicate that forms from weathering of other silicates
D) a halide that forms from weathering of other halides

Question 44

Your fingernail will scratch

A) talc
B) orthoclase
C) calcite
D) corundum

Question 45

Which mineral will "double refract" written text?

A) flourite
B) apatite
C) quartz
D) calcite

Question 46

Which of the following is not a common rock forming mineral but by contrast is always found in living things.

A) iron
B) potassium
C) magnesium
D) carbon

Question 47

The most common group of silicates is___________ .

A) granite
B) mica
C) quartz
D) feldspar

Question 48

Clay minerals are light silicates that form __________.

A) from chemical weathering of igneous rocks
B) from mechanical weathering of any rock
C) from pressure and heat
D) from molten rock

Question 49

Light colored silicates have a specific gravity of about 2.7 grams/cm³ are composed primarily of the silica tetrahedra and __________.

A) iron, magnesium, calcium, and sodium
B) potassium, calcium, sodium, and aluminum
C) aluminum, magnesium, calcium, and iron
D) potassium, aluminum, magnesium, and sodium
E) magnesium, aluminum, sodium, and calcium

Question 50

The most common group of rock forming minerals is_________ .

A) the halides
B) the silicates
C) the sulfates
D) carbonate

Question 51

Dark silicates have a specific gravity of 3.2 to 3.6 and are composed primarily of silica tetrahedral and____________ .

A) aluminum and sodium
B) iron and magnesium
C) aluminum and magnesium
D) potassium and iron
E) potassium and calcium

Question 52

Halides always include_____ .

A) Cl^{- 1}, F^{- 1}, or Br^{- 1}
B) SO₄^{- 2}
C) CO₃^{- 2}
D) SiO₄^{- 4}

Question 53

The basic building block of a silicate is composed of___________ .

A) 1 oxygen and 1 silicon
B) 3 oxygens and 1 silicon
C) 2 oxygens and 1 silicon
D) 4 oxygens and 1 silicon

Question 54

The mineral fluorite is commonly _______ .

A) conchoidal
B) octohedral
C) sheetlike
D) cubical

Question 55

Which two elements combine to make most of the common rock forming minerals in the crust?

A) silicon and oxygen
B) silicon and nitrogen
C) carbon and nitrogen
D) nitrogen and oxygen
E) carbon and oxygen

Question 56

Carbonates always include_________ .

A) SiO₄^{- 4}
B) SO₄^{- 2}
C) Cl^{- 1}, F^{- 1}, or Br^{- 1}
D) CO₃^{- 2}

Question 57

A cubic centimeter of quartz, olivine, and gold weighs 2.5, 3.0, and 19.8 grams, respectively. This indicates that______ .

A) gold has a higher specific gravity than quartz and olivine
B) olivine and quartz powders are harder than metallic gold
C) gold and olivine are silicates, whereas quartz is elemental silicon
D) gold is 6 to 7 times harder than olivine and quartz

Question 58

Silicates most commonly form ________.

A) at the surface of Earth
B) under extreme pressure
C) from other silicates
D) from cooling molten rock

Question 59

Although it is relatively common, limestone is an economically important rock type because its major constituent mineral,__________ , is used in the production of ________.

A) calcite; cement
B) halite; halogen
C) halite; salt
D) calcite; calcium

Question 60

Quartz has a characteristic conchoidal fracture, yet rock shops often sell quartz as elongate six sided objects with a pointed termination. What causes this shape?

A) You should never buy a crystal like this because it is clearly fake, only artificial crystals grow this way.
B) Quartz usually is amorphous, consistent with its conchoidal fracture, but when it grows it grows against minerals with planar faces, causing this shape.
C) The rock shop cuts them that way with abrasives. The facets are cut to give the crystals more "power" for the crystal people.
D) The planar faces that form the object are crystal faces that grow when the crystals grew into a void.

Question 61

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) cubic
B) amorphous
C) bladed
D) tabular

Question 62

Dolomite is a magnesium- rich member of the______ group.

A) halide
B) carbonate
C) sulfate
D) silicate

Question 63

Gypsum, which is widely used in plaster and wallboard, is a member of the __________group.

A) silicate
B) halide
C) carbonate
D) sulfate

Question 64

This element is classified as an ore even in average concentrations because it is so abundant.

A) uranium
B) carbon
C) aluminum
D) boron

Question 65

In the late 20^th century most metal prices were very low but metal prices increased dramatically in the early 21^st century. Simultaneously, the early 21^st century saw extensive "brown fields exploration" in which companies went to old mining areas and extracted old mine wastes or reopened old mine workings. What is the primary explanation for this activity?

A) The companies were only interested acquiring properties through a sleazy land grab, and had no intention of doing anything with the deposits assuming no one cared about brown fields.
B) Environmental regulations make it impossible to explore anywhere but old mining areas, so this was the only place the companies could look for deposits.
C) The increase of metal prices made mineral resources that were previously uneconomic into ores that could potentially be extracted profitably.
D) The old miners were wasteful and left large amounts of ore in the ground.

Question 66

Below is a picture of the enormous Bingham Canyon copper mine in Utah. What is the reason that the mine is so large?

A) It is unknown if any copper underlies this deposit, so miners must continue to dig to find it.
B) Copper is economically valuable even in small quantities, so it is considered to be worth creating a large hole to extract as much as possible.
C) Copper exists in abundant quantities, so miners are trying to extract as much as possible.
D) The mine is the only location on Earth where copper is found, so the hole needs to be large.

Question 67

Which of the following is a renewable resource?

A) water
B) helium gas
C) coal
D) rock salt

Question 68

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) feldspar
B) quartz
C) olivine
D) calcite

Question 69

Which of the following minerals is a silicate?

A) halite
B) feldspar
C) hematite
D) calcite

Question 70

Which common mineral is composed entirely of silicon and oxygen?

A) quartz
B) calcite
C) diamond
D) olivine

Question 71

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) feldspar
B) quartz
C) olivine
D) calcite

Question 72

What is true of three- dimensional networks of silicates?

A) they form sheets
B) they form complex masses
C) they are bonded equally strong in all directions
D) they tend to be separate tetrahedral units

Question 73

Which one of the following mineral groups exhibits a sheet- like silicate structure?

A) carbonates
B) micas
C) pyroxenes
D) feldspars

Question 74

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) valence
B) hydrogen
C) covalent
D) ionic

Question 75

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) carbon
B) aluminum
C) oxygen
D) iron

Question 76

A naturally occurring concentration of one or more metallic minerals that can be extracted economically is an__________ .

A) ore
B) reserve
C) tailing
D) resource

Question 77

What time span is required to produce most mineral deposits?

A) billions of years
B) tens of thousands to millions of years
C) 1- 100 years, or about a human life span
D) We have no way of knowing this, but most were formed at the same time as Earth.

Question 78

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

A) neutron
B) atom
C) proton
D) electron

Question 79

What theory dramatically improved geologist's ability to predict where certain ore deposits were formed?

A) quantum mechanics
B) plate tectonics
C) faulting theory
D) geosynclines

Question 80

Deposits of which of the following minerals would never be considered an ore due to their relatively low market value?

A) chalcopyrite
B) galena
C) hematite
D) quartz