Download Ch - Teacherpage

Name __Answer Key____________________
Test Date___________________
#_____
Science Study Guide ~ Classifying Minerals
Chapter 9 – Lesson 2
1.
What is a mineral?
A mineral is a natural, nonliving solid crystal that make up rocks.
2. What are the properties that scientist use to identify minerals?
Property
Definition / Description
Picture & Example
Color is usually the first and most easily
Color
observed property of a mineral.
Luster
The way the surface of a mineral reflects
light.
Hardness
How easily the surface of a mineral can
be scratched.
Streak
Shape
Cleavage
Color of the powder that a mineral leaves
when it is scratched across a special
plate.
Minerals usually form distinct crystals
and their shape plays an important part in
their identification.
Property of minerals to break along
smooth, flat surfaces
3. What is the relationship between minerals and rocks?
Minerals make up rocks
4. Do many kinds of minerals make up rocks?
No. Most rocks are made up of a small number of minerals that are called “rock forming”
minerals.
5. Why is one property not enough to identify a mineral?
Many minerals can share one property, but each mineral has a specific combination of
properties by which it can be identified.
6. What do they use to measure a mineral’s hardness?
Mohs Scale
7. Which branch of mathematics can help you identify the shapes and cleavage of minerals?
Geometry