1

Which of the following is not a characteristic of all minerals?

A. ShinyB. Naturally occurringC. Consistent chemical compositionD. Crystal structureE. Inorganic

2

Why is coal not considered a mineral?A. Not naturally occurringB. Too softC. OrganicD. Not shinyE. Not dense enough

3

Why is brass not a mineral?A. It is a man-made alloyB. It is too denseC. It has metallic lusterD. It doesn’t leave a streakE. It doesn’t glow under UV light

4

Why is obsidian not a mineral?A. It has lusterB. It is too hardC. It doesn’t leave a streakD. It doesn’t have a crystal structureE. It was formed by lava crystallizing

5

What mineral property is most likely being tested with the following tools?

A. HardnessB. StreakC. Specific gravityD. LusterE. Cleavage

6

What mineral property is being tested?A. HardnessB. StreakC. FluorescenceD. Specific gravityE. Luster

7

What mineral property is being tested?A. HardnessB. StreakC. Specific gravityD. LusterE. Cleavage

8

What mineral property is being tested?A. FluorescenceB. StreakC. Specific gravityD. LusterE. Effervescence

9

This mineral scratches a penny but cannot scratch glass.

A. CalciteB. FluoriteC. QuartzD. OrthoclaseE. Talc

10

This mineral scratches gypsum but is scratched by orthoclase.

A. TalcB. TopazC. Quartz D. CorundumE. Calcite

11

What test would be best to differentiate fluorite and amethyst (a type of quartz)?

A. ColorB. StreakC. FluorescenceD. LusterE. Effervescence

12

You find a gold mineral and want to determine whether it is gold or pyrite. What test should you use?

A. StreakB. ColorC. EffervescenceD. LusterE. Smell

13

Quartz and calcite are both common minerals in our area and are found within rocks. Which of the following tests would most definitively determine which mineral is in the rock?

A. ColorB. LusterC. HardnessD. TasteE. Streak

14

What test would be best to differentiate quartz and feldspar?

A. ColorB. HardnessC. FluorescenceD. Fracture vs. CleavageE. Streak

Varieties of Quartz

Feldspar

15

What type of cleavage does amphibole have?A. BasalB. CubicC. RhombohedralD. PrismaticE. Octahedral

16

What type of cleavage does fluorite have?A. BasalB. CubicC. RhombohedralD. PrismaticE. Octahedral

17

What type of cleavage does calcite have?A. BasalB. CubicC. RhombohedralD. PrismaticE. Octahedral

18

What type of cleavage does muscovite have?A. BasalB. CubicC. RhombohedralD. PrismaticE. Octahedral

19

What type of cleavage does halite have?A. BasalB. CubicC. RhombohedralD. PrismaticE. Octahedral

20

What type of luster does quartz have?A. VitreousB. EarthyC. MetallicD. ResinousE. Greasy

21

What type of luster does pyrite have?A. Pearly B. EarthyC. MetallicD. ResinousE. Greasy

22

Which of the following minerals has the same composition as diamond (C)?

A. GalenaB. QuartzC. CorundumD. GraphiteE. Calcite

23

To which class of minerals would pyrite (FeS) belong?

A. Halides B. SulfidesC. CarbonatesD. OxidesE. Sulfates

24

To which class of minerals would quartz (SiO2) belong?

A. PhosphatesB. SulfidesC. ElementalD. SilicatesE. Sulfates

25

To which class of minerals would corundum (Al2O3) belong?

A. SilicatesB. OxidesC. HalidesD. CarbonatesE. Sulfates

26

To which class of minerals would malachite (Cu2CO3(OH)2) belong?

A. CarbonatesB. SulfidesC. PhosphatesD. Iron oreE. Mafic

27

Olivine contains a lot of magnesium and iron and a much lower portion of silica as compared to quartz. To which class of minerals would olivine belong?

A. MaficB. SulfatesC. PhosphatesD. HalidesE. Elemental

28

To which class of minerals would halite (NaCl) belong?

A. Iron oreB. HalidesC. SulfatesD. PhosphatesE. Oxides

29

To which class of minerals would gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O) belong?

A. SilicatesB. PhosphatesC. SulfatesD. OxidesE. Halides

30

While calcite effervesces easily, this mineral will effervesce, or bubble in acid, only if it is ground into a powder. What mineral is it?

A. HaliteB. CorundumC. GypsumD. PyriteE. Dolomite

31

What mineral is known for its very high density?

A. CorundumB. GraphiteC. SulfurD. GalenaE. Halite

32

Which mineral would most likely be found in a cave?

A. CoalB. CalciteC. CorundumD. SulfurE. Halite

33

Which mineral, with a hardness of 9, is often used on saw blades because of its extreme hardness?

A. FluoriteB. QuartzC. CorundumD. GraphiteE. Biotite

34

What mineral, with a hardness of only 1, is used in make-up?

A. MuscoviteB. GraphiteC. QuartzD. TalcE. Fluorite

35

What mineral can be identified by color alone?A. SulfurB. PyriteC. QuartzD. TalcE. Calcite

36

What mineral is used in pencils?A. CalciteB. GraphiteC. PyriteD. QuartzE. Corundum

37

You have two samples of quartz. Which statement may be incorrect?

A. They have approximately the same densities.

B. They have about the same hardness. C. They are the same color.D. They both have fracture.

38

This mica is the black mineral found in granite.

A. MuscoviteB. GraphiteC. BiotiteD. CalciteE. Quartz

39

The gemstone of this mineral, shown on the right, is peridot, and is the August birthstone.

A. QuartzB. OlivineC. BiotiteD. FluoriteE. Pyrite

40

The gemstone of this very hard mineral is ruby.A. SulfurB. QuartzC. CorundumD. GalenaE. Hematite

41

This iron ore mineral has a characteristic red streak.

A. HematiteB. CorundumC. ChalcopyriteD. OlivineE. Talc

42

This iron ore is naturally magnetic.A. BiotiteB. QuartzC. PyriteD. MagnetiteE. Muscovite