Science Unit 4 Lesson 1

Question 1

What is the definition of luster?

Answer 1

The way light interacts with the surface of a rock or mineral

Question 2

What is the definition of vitreous?

Answer 2

Glassy

Question 3

What is the defintion of hardness in a material?

Answer 3

The hardness of a mineral is its ability to resist scratching.

Question 4

What scale is used to determined hardness?

Answer 4

Hardness can be measured using the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, developed by German mineralogist Friedrich Mohs. He assigned the values 1−10 to various minerals, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest. Other minerals are ranked based on their ability to scratch
one another.

Question 5

How do you find density using math?

Answer 5

The density of a substance is the ratio between its mass and its volume.

Question 6

What an objects density?

Answer 6

An object’s density is related to whether it sinks or floats in a liquid. If the object sinks, it is more dense than the liquid. If it floats, it is less dense than
the liquid.

Question 7

What does density refer to?

Answer 7

Density refers to how tightly an object’s atoms are packed together.

Question 8

What is the luster of an object?

Answer 8

The luster of a rock or mineral sample is the way light interacts with its surface.

Question 9

What does transparencey refer to in the case of luster?

Answer 9

Transparency refers to the amount of light that passes
through a sample.

Question 10

What does transparent mean in the case of luster?

Answer 10

Transparent means that all light passes
through.

Question 11

What does translucent mean refering to luster?

Answer 11

Translucent means that some light passes through.

Question 12

What does opaque mean refering to luster?

Answer 12

Opaque means that no light passes through.

Question 13

What does reflective mean reffering to luster?

Answer 13

Reflective means that light bounces off of a sample.

Question 14

What does refraction mean refering to luster?

Answer 14

Refraction refers to how light bends as it passes through the sample.

Question 15

What are the 2 types of luster?

Answer 15

There are two main types of luster: metallic and non-metallic.

Question 16

What is metalic luster?

Answer 16

A rock or mineral that looks like a shiny
metal has metallic luster.

Question 17

A rock or mineral that has metallic luster
has what traits?

Answer 17

A rock or mineral that has metallic luster
is opaque and reflective.

Question 18

What is sub metalic luster?

Answer 18

A sample with submetallic luster has the appearance of a dull metal. Its surface is reflective but slightly dulled.

Question 19

What is non metalic luster?

Answer 19

A rock or mineral with non-metallic luster doesn’t look like a metal at all. Non-metallic luster is divided into several sub-types.

Question 20

Non-metallic luster sub-types:

Answer 20

• adamantine: translucent with a sparkly appearance
• dull: opaque, no reflection
• earthy: looks like soil or clay
• greasy: looks to be coated in oil
• pearly: has the sheen of a pearl
• resinous: looks like amber; not quite glassy
• silky: looks like silk; fine parallel fibers of
  mineral
• vitreous: looks like glass
• waxy: looks like wax

Question 21

Which one mineral is known to repel from a magnetic field?

Answer 21

Bismuth

Question 22

What is cleavage?

Answer 22

Cleavage refers to the tendency of a mineral to break along smooth planes.

Question 23

What is fracture?

Answer 23

Fracture refers to the tendency of a mineral to break along surfaces that are not smooth.

Question 24

What is the definition of magnetism?

Answer 24

How a mineral reacts when placed within a magnetic field

Question 25

Rocks are composed of what?

Answer 25

Rocks are composed of minerals

Question 26

What are minerals?

Answer 26

Minerals are inorganic solids that occur naturally

Question 27

What is an element?

Answer 27

An element is a naturally occurring substance that can be broken down further through a chemical process

Question 28

A mineral is made out of what?

Answer 28

A mineral is made out of 1 or more elements

Question 29

What is so special about silica sand?

Answer 29

Silica has moisture-absorbing properties. This mineral is also abrasive, meaning it is rough and can used to polish a surface.

Question 30

What is silica sand used for?

Answer 30

You may have seen silica gel packets, which rely on silica’s moisture-absorbing properties.

Question 31

What does hydraulic fracturing, or framing, do?

Answer 31

A method of extracting oil and gas by injecting rocks with a liquid at high pressure.

Question 32

_____ is pure silica and is used as a proppant in fracking–it props open the fractures within the rock.

Answer 32

Frac sand

Question 33

What does frac sand do to the environment?

Answer 33

It affects sand dune ecosystems

Question 34

What is phosphorus?

Answer 34

A necessary nutrient for all living things