Minerals

How many neutrons are in an atom of ₆C¹²?

6
18
12
not enough information

How many electrons are in a neutral atom of ₆C¹⁴?

6
18
12
not enough information

Solids that do not possess an orderly 3-D arrangement of atoms are called_____.

polymorphs
amorphous
crystalline
minerals

An ion of ₆C¹⁴ is formed by adding enough electrons to the L shell to completely fill it up. How many electrons are added?

2
3
4
8

This ion has a charge of:

-4
+4
-2
+2

and is a(n):

anion
cation


For the element ₂₁ZZ⁴⁴, how many neutrons are present in the nucleus of an atom?

21
44
23
65

What is the most common structural element of the silicate mineral group?

a silicon-oxygen octahedron
a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
a silicon-aluminum tetrahedron
a silicon-nitrogen tetrahedron

The atomic mass number of an element is the __________.

number of protons
number of neutrons
number of protons plus neutrons
number of electrons

True or False : Quartz has a hardness of 7 and will scratch all minerals with a hardness of 8 and higher.

True
False


______ is the most abundant cation in the continental crust.

aluminum
iron
oxygen
silicon

______ is a common nesosilicate - single tetrahedron.

olivine
quartz
alkali feldspar
pyroxene

_______ refers to two or more crystalline phases with the same composition but different structures.

solid solution
polymorphism


_______ describes two atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers.

solid solution
polymorphism
isotopes


_______ describes two solid phases (minerals) which can mix in all proportions.

solid solution
polymorphism
isotopes

Which of the following statements about graphite and diamond is false?

graphite and diamond have the same density
graphite and density have different mineral structures
graphite and diamond are both made of carbon atoms
graphite is stable in the crust whereas diamond is stable in the mantle

Clay minerals are common examples of _________ silicate structures.

framework
single chains
sheet silicates
isolated tetrahedra

The property "cleavage" refers to _______________?

development of crystal faces during mineral growth
splitting of a mineral along planar surfaces
development of irregular fractures when a mineral is broken
the density or specific gravity of a mineral

Which of the following statements regarding the density of minerals is false?

density depends on the atomic weight of the ions in a mineral
density depends on the closeness of the atomic packing
density decreases with increasing pressure
density decreases with increasing temperature

Given two minerals with the exact same chemical composition, which minerals is more likely to form at higher pressures

the mineral with the highest hardness
the mineral with the lowest hardness
the mineral with the lowest density
the mineral with the greatest density

Carbon has an atomic number of 6 and an atomic weight of 12.011. This means that ____________.

carbon atoms have 6 protons and 12.011 neutrons
carbon atoms have 6 protons and a density of 12.011 grams per cubic centimeter
carbon atoms have 6 neutrons and 12.011 protons
carbon atoms have 6 protons and a varying number of neutrons

Solid materials that do not possess an orderly arrangement of atoms are called :

glasses
minerals
crystals
polymorphs

Each element has a unique number of :

protons
neutrons
electrons
all of these

The atomic weight of an element is equal to :

number of protons
number of neutrons
number of protons plus neutrons
none of these

Atoms that have gained or lost electrons are no longer electrically neutral and are called :

polymorphs
ions
isotopes
isobars

What does the symbol Ca⁺² stand for?

a calcium electron
a calcium cation
a calcium anion
a calcium isotope

In the periodic table of the elements, as one goes from left to right along a row:

the number of electrons in the outer shell increases
the atomic number decreases
the number electrons in the outer shell decreases
the number of isotopes increases

Which of the following elements commonly forms anions?

hydrogen
silicon
oxygen
iron

Diamond is an example of what type of bonding?

covalent
ionic
metallic
bail

The growth of a solid from a material whose atoms can come together in the proper chemical proportions and crystalline arrangement is called :

density
bonding
melting
crystallization

Large crystals with well-formed faces tend to form when :?

molten rock cools quickly
rocks undergo melting
minerals have the space to grow such as in open cavities and the time to grow slowly
volcanoes erupt explosively

Iron and magnesium ions are similar in size and both have a +2 charge. Therefore, we would expect :

iron and magnesium to bond easily
iron and magnesium to share electrons
iron and magnesium to be polymorphs
iron and magnesium to substitute for each other in minerals

Chemical substances that have exactly the same chemical formula. but different crystal structures are called :

ions
polymorphs
electrons
isotopes

The chemical formula (Mg,Fe)₂SiO₄ describes which of the following minerals?

feldspar
mica
olivine
pyroxene

Most common rock-forming minerals are:

carbonates
oxides
silicates
sulfides

The two most abundant elements in the Earth's crust are:

calcium and carbon
oxygen and nitrogen
iron and nickle
silicon and oxygen

The mineral pyroxene is an example of a ____ silicate:

framework
single chain
sheet
ring

What type of mineral is calcite?

carbonate
single chain silicate
double chain silicate
ring silicate

Which of the following minerals is a common clay mineral used for making pottery?

feldspar
kaolinite
olivine
pyroxene

Which mineral has the greatest hardness?

corundum
feldspar
quartz
talc

Which of the following minerals does not exhibit cleavage?

feldspar
calcite
quartz
halite

Which of the following mineral properties is the least reliable clue to its identity?

hardness
cleavage
color
density

The shape in which an individual crystal grows is called the mineral's crystal ____.

cleavage
habit
density
streak

Which of the following is not a mineral property?

isotopic composition
hardness
cleavage
streak

Given two minerals with the exact same chemical composition, which mineral is more likely to form at high pressures?

the mineral with the higher hardness
the mineral with the lower hardness
the mineral with the higher density
the mineral with the lower density

Which of the following is considered a mineral?

seawater
rock salt
cast iron
vegetation

Which of the following statements is false?

pyroxenes and amphiboles are both silicates
pyroxenes and amphiboles have cleavages at different angles
pyroxenes and amphiboles are polymorphs
pyroxenes and amphiboles consist of chains (1 or 2) of silicate tetrahedra

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