Defining Minerals

Which of the following is NOT part of the definition of a mineral?

• a.naturally formed
• b.solid
• c.produced organically
• d.specific chemical composition

Wood is considered a mineral.

• a.true
• b.false

Steno's contribution to the science of mineralogy was the observation that

• a.the size of a crystal doesn't affect the angles between crystal faces.
• b.the size of crystals changes with the angles between the crystal faces.
• c.quartz crystals are composed of silicon and oxygen.
• d.quartz has a distinctive crystal color.

The earliest study of minerals was conducted by Agricola, who mostly described minerals in relation to

• a.medicine.
• b.mining practices.
• c.chemical composition.
• d.crystal structure.

A rock is just another name for a mineral.

• a.true
• b.false

Minerals that are found on other planets might be able to tell us

• a.if life was ever present on that planet.
• b.if water was ever present on that planet.
• c.if volcanoes ever erupted on that planet.
• d.all of the choices

Three minerals called kyanite, andalusite, and sillimanite all have the same chemical composition (Al₂SiO₅), but they look very different. Which of the following is the most likely reason for this?

• a.The atomic structures of the three minerals are different.
• b.The locations where these minerals occur are different.
• c.The three minerals contain different impurities.
• d.Three different people named the same mineral.

Specific minerals can be created under any situation, as long as the compounds that make it up are present.

• a.true
• b.false