Mineral Identification Worksheet
This worksheet helps students identify minerals based on their physical properties, including hardness, luster, streak, and cleavage.
Includes
Standards
Topics
Mineral Identification
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. This worksheet will test your knowledge of mineral identification properties.
1. Which of the following is NOT a reliable property for identifying minerals?
Hardness
Color
Streak
Luster
2. What is the softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale?
Quartz
Diamond
Talc
Gypsum
3. The way a mineral reflects light is called its .
4. The color of a mineral's powder is known as its .
5. Explain the difference between cleavage and fracture in minerals.
6. All minerals have a distinct crystal shape.
True
False
7. The Mohs Hardness Scale ranges from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).
True
False
Match each mineral property with its description.
8. Hardness
a. The way a mineral breaks along irregular surfaces
9. Luster
b. A mineral's resistance to scratching
10. Streak
c. The way a mineral reflects light
11. Fracture
d. The color of a mineral's powder