Term
| A rock is best defined as: |
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Definition
| aggregates of one or more minerals. |
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Term
| In geology, a mineral is defined as: |
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Definition
| a naturally occurring, usually inorganic, solid consisting of chemical elements in specific proportions, whose atoms are arranged in a systematic internal pattern. |
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Term
| The smallest particle of an element that retains all of the element's chemical properties is the: |
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Definition
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Term
| One carbon isotope has 6 protons, 8 neutrons, and 6 electrons. Its atomic mass is: |
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Definition
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Term
| The property that distinguishes an atom to be that of a particular element is: |
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Definition
| the number of protons it has. |
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Term
| The element carbon has 6 protons and 6 electrons, and one isotope has 8 neutrons. The atomic number of this isotope of carbon is: |
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Definition
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Term
| Which characteristics of an atom determine whether it will bind with other atoms? |
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Definition
| Number of electrons in the outer shell and net electrical charge. |
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Term
| Which of the following atoms would be LEAST likely to bond with other atoms? |
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Definition
| An atom with 8 electrons in its outer shell and the same number of electrons as protons. |
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Term
| An atom with only one electron in its outer shell loses that electron, and does the following EXCEPT: |
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Definition
| become the atom of a different element |
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Term
| Opal should NOT be considered a mineral because |
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Definition
| it does not have a systematic internal organization of its atoms. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| In a covalent bond, atoms |
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Definition
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Term
| In metallic bonding, which of the following is NOT true? |
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Definition
| Metallic bonding is the most common type of bonding among minerals. |
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Term
| Which of the following characteristics is NOT imparted by metallic bonding? |
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Definition
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Term
| Which of the following statements concerning hydrogen bonding is NOT true? |
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Definition
| It occurs because the water molecule is polar; the oxygen side of the water molecule carries a positive charge and the hydrogen side carries a negative charge |
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Term
| A van der Waals bond is a type of: |
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Definition
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Term
| Which of the following statements concerning crystals is NOT true? |
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Definition
| They are considered crystals only if they are naturally occurring. |
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Term
| A mineraloid is the same as a mineral EXCEPT: |
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Definition
| it does not possess an orderly internal arrangement. |
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Term
| The kinds of mineral formed in a particular time and place depend on all of the following EXCEPT: |
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Definition
| the shape of the space in which the mineral forms. |
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Term
| In a crystal structure, which of the following is true? |
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Definition
| Smaller positive ions occur between larger negative ions |
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Term
| Which of the following statements concerning mineral crystal formation is NOT true? |
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Definition
| Because the identity of the available atoms remains constant, the formation of crystals is independent of the rate of cooling of the molten rock from which it forms |
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Term
| In the mineral olivine, iron and magnesium can substitute freely in the crystal for all of the following reasons EXCEPT: |
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Definition
| they have the same atomic mass |
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Term
| The term polymorphism refers to: |
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Definition
| two mineral crystals that have the same chemical composition but different crystal structure. |
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Term
| The best single property by which most minerals can be identified is: |
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Definition
| none of the above, because minerals can seldom be identified on the basis of only one property. |
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Term
| Which of the following statements about mineral identification is NOT true? |
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Definition
| Color is one of the most reliable ways by which minerals can be identified. |
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Term
| Which of the following statements regarding mineral identification is NOT true? |
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Definition
| Luster refers primarily to whether the mineral appears to shine when its surface is wet. |
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Term
| The purpose of rubbing a mineral across an unglazed porcelain slab, the streak plate, is: |
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Definition
| to observe the color of a mineral in its powdered form |
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Term
| Mineral hardness refers to: |
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Definition
| strength of the bonds in the crystal structure. |
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Term
| If a mineral exhibits cleavage, it: |
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Definition
| breaks consistently along distinct planes. |
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Term
| Which of the following statements about mineral hardness is NOT true? |
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Definition
| Hardness refers to how easily or how resistant a mineral is to breakage |
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Term
| If a mineral exhibits cleavage, it: |
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Definition
| breaks consistently along distinct planes. |
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Term
| Mineral cleavage indicates: |
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Definition
| unequal bond strength in the crystal. |
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Term
| Fracture in a mineral indicates: |
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Definition
| equal bond strength in the crystal structure. |
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Term
| Diamond cutters have traditionally made use of which mineral property? |
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Definition
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Term
| In the laboratory, the specific gravity of a mineral can be determined by the ratio of the substance's: |
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Definition
| weight to the weight of an equal volume of water. |
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Term
| The most important (i.e., most abundant) mineral group is the: |
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Definition
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Term
| The silicon-oxygen tetrahedron consists of: |
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Definition
| one small silicon atom and four larger oxygen atoms. |
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Term
| Silicon-oxygen tetrahedra can form as independent tetrahedra, single chains, double chains, sheets, and frameworks. A list of the minerals corresponding to these, in order, are: |
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Definition
| olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, mica, quartz |
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Term
The mineral quartz is distinctive because it consists of: |
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Definition
a three-dimensional framework composed entirely of silicon and oxygen. |
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Term
Smectite clay is used for all of the following EXCEPT: |
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Definition
as a common cure for intestinal ailments. |
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Term
| All of the following statements concerning nonsilicates are true EXCEPT: |
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Definition
| they form the two most abundant minerals in the Earth's crust. |
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Term
| Which of the following is the most appropriate statement regarding the naming of minerals? |
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Definition
| The names of minerals are based on geographic locations, distinctive physical characteristics, and so on, rather than on a conventional system |
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Term
| Which of the following statements about gemstones is NOT true? |
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Definition
| Gemstones are formed only from very rare minerals |
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Term
| Which of the following statements concerning diamonds is NOT true? |
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Definition
| Diamonds are formed as a result of extreme pressure on coal that has been buried to a depth of more than 150 kilometers (90 miles). |
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Term
| Which one of the following properties will distinguish cubic zirconia from real diamond? |
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Definition
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Term
| All of the following statements concerning synthetic gems are true EXCEPT: |
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Definition
| synthetic gems are generally cheaper than natural gems |
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Term
| All of the following statements concerning synthetic gems are true EXCEPT: |
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Definition
| synthetic gems are generally cheaper than natural gems. |
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Term
| Which of the following examples of minerals that form under the given environments is NOT possible? |
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Definition
| Deposits of calcite form from the slow cooling of molten rock. |
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Term
| Which of the following is a common nonferromagnesian silicate mineral? |
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Definition
| all of the above (clay minerals, feldspar, quartz, muscovite) |
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Term
| Which of the following is a common ferromagnesian mineral? |
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Definition
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