C1 Review Questions
  1. Complete this concept map describing the properties of minerals.
The properties of minerals.

Answer:

The properties of minerals.
  1. Is a tree a mineral? Explain.
    2. A tree is not a mineral because it is organic. A tree is living material.

  2. Why can color sometimes be a misleading property when used to identify minerals?
    3. Color can sometimes be misleading because different minerals can have the same surface color. Gold and pyrite, for example, may have similar surface colors.

  3. An unknown mineral can’t be scratched by a fingernail. This same mineral can’t scratch an iron nail. What is the possible range of hardness for this unknown mineral?
    4. Your fingernail has a hardness of 2.5, and an iron nail has a hardness of 4.5. The unknown mineral must have a hardness greater than 2.5, but less than 4.5.

  4. Can a streak plate be used to determine the color of powdered topaz? Explain.
    5. A streak plate cannot be used to determine the color of powdered topaz. This is because topaz, with a hardness of 8, has a greater hardness than that of a streak plate (7). Moving a sample of topaz across a streak plate will not result in a powdered streak of topaz. The topaz will instead scratch the streak plate.