Question 1

The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons until they are surrounded by____ valence electrons.

Accepted Answer

A)  eight 
B)  three 
C)  no 
D)  as many protons as they have 
A)  eight 
B)  three 
C)  no 
D)  as many protons as they have

Question 2

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

Accepted Answer

A)  feldspar 
B)  quartz 
C)  olivine 
D)  calcite 
A)  feldspar 
B)  quartz 
C)  olivine 
D)  calcite

Question 3

Diamond and graphite are both minerals composed of________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  silica 
B)  oxygen 
C)  a compound 
D)  a single element 
A)  silica 
B)  oxygen 
C)  a compound 
D)  a single element

Question 4

The atomic particle that carries a positive charge is called an_______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  element 
B)  mineral 
C)  atom 
D)  proton 
A)  element 
B)  mineral 
C)  atom 
D)  proton

Question 5

Cleavage is related to the________ of a mineral.

Accepted Answer

A)  color 
B)  internal structure 
C)  fracture 
D)  streak 
A)  color 
B)  internal structure 
C)  fracture 
D)  streak

Question 6

Many metals are extracted from ores that contain____ minerals.

Accepted Answer

A)  carbonate 
B)  sulfate 
C)  silicate 
D)  halide 
A)  carbonate 
B)  sulfate 
C)  silicate 
D)  halide

Question 7

Joe Geologist discovers a vein made up primarily of quartz but also containing significant amounts of pyrite as well as chalcopyrite. He knows better than to fall for fool's gold, and decides to ignore the vein. Did he make the right decision? Explain.

Accepted Answer

No, although the pyrite has no value the

Question 8

Silicon- oxygen bonds are_______ and cause cleavage to be_________ in silicate minerals.

Accepted Answer

A)  strong, uncommon 
B)  strong, common 
C)  weak, common 
D)  weak, uncommon 
A)  strong, uncommon 
B)  strong, common 
C)  weak, common 
D)  weak, uncommon

Question 9

Which of the following minerals is not a chemical compound?

Accepted Answer

A)  quartz SiO2. 
B)  graphite C. 
C)  pyrite FeS. 
D)  halite NaCl. 
A)  quartz SiO2. 
B)  graphite C. 
C)  pyrite FeS. 
D)  halite NaCl.

Question 10

1 gram is defined as the mass of 1 cubic centimeter of water. A cubic centimeter of quartz weighs 2.65 g and a cubic centimeter of galena weighs 7.5 g. The density of these materials from highest to lowest is__________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  galena, quartz, water 
B)  water, quartz, galena 
C)  galena, water, quartz 
D)  quartz, galena, water 
A)  galena, quartz, water 
B)  water, quartz, galena 
C)  galena, water, quartz 
D)  quartz, galena, water

Question 11

Wood floats in water and rocks sink; thus, the density of wood is______________ .

Accepted Answer

A)  exactly the same as water 
B)  higher than that of water 
C)  lower than that of water 
D)  unable to be compared to water, as they are two different sates of matter 
A)  exactly the same as water 
B)  higher than that of water 
C)  lower than that of water 
D)  unable to be compared to water, as they are two different sates of matter

Question 12

Dolomite is a magnesium- rich member of the______ group.

Accepted Answer

A)  halide 
B)  carbonate 
C)  sulfate 
D)  silicate 
A)  halide 
B)  carbonate 
C)  sulfate 
D)  silicate

Question 13

In the late 20th century most metal prices were very low but metal prices increased dramatically in the early 21st century. Simultaneously, the early 21st century saw extensive "brown fields exploration" in which companies went to old mining areas and extracted old mine wastes or reopened old mine workings. What is the primary explanation for this activity?

Accepted Answer

A)  The companies were only interested acquiring properties through a sleazy land grab, and had no intention of doing anything with the deposits assuming no one cared about brown fields. 
B)  Environmental regulations make it impossible to explore anywhere but old mining areas, so this was the only place the companies could look for deposits. 
C)  The increase of metal prices made mineral resources that were previously uneconomic into ores that could potentially be extracted profitably. 
D)  The old miners were wasteful and left large amounts of ore in the ground. 
A)  The companies were only interested acquiring properties through a sleazy land grab, and had no intention of doing anything with the deposits assuming no one cared about brown fields. 
B)  Environmental regulations make it impossible to explore anywhere but old mining areas, so this was the only place the companies could look for deposits. 
C)  The increase of metal prices made mineral resources that were previously uneconomic into ores that could potentially be extracted profitably. 
D)  The old miners were wasteful and left large amounts of ore in the ground.

Question 14

What does the tendency of micas to produce thin cleavage flakes suggest about its crystal structure?

Accepted Answer

A)  The structure is characterized by rings that form an interlocking network, forming planar sheets. 
B)  The crystal structure is characterized by complex polymerized mats that form a sheetlike structure. 
C)  The structure is produced by flow in the igneous rock, aligning glass layers within the crystal structure. 
D)  The atoms are arranged in orderly arrangements that form strongly bonded sheets separated by weak bonds between the sheets. 
A)  The structure is characterized by rings that form an interlocking network, forming planar sheets. 
B)  The crystal structure is characterized by complex polymerized mats that form a sheetlike structure. 
C)  The structure is produced by flow in the igneous rock, aligning glass layers within the crystal structure. 
D)  The atoms are arranged in orderly arrangements that form strongly bonded sheets separated by weak bonds between the sheets.

Question 15

A cubic centimeter of quartz, olivine, and gold weighs 2.5, 3.0, and 19.8 grams, respectively. This indicates that______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  gold has a higher specific gravity than quartz and olivine 
B)  olivine and quartz powders are harder than metallic gold 
C)  gold and olivine are silicates, whereas quartz is elemental silicon 
D)  gold is 6 to 7 times harder than olivine and quartz 
A)  gold has a higher specific gravity than quartz and olivine 
B)  olivine and quartz powders are harder than metallic gold 
C)  gold and olivine are silicates, whereas quartz is elemental silicon 
D)  gold is 6 to 7 times harder than olivine and quartz

Question 16

Which common mineral is composed entirely of silicon and oxygen?

Accepted Answer

A)  quartz 
B)  calcite 
C)  diamond 
D)  olivine 
A)  quartz 
B)  calcite 
C)  diamond 
D)  olivine

Question 17

Heavy elements like Pb lead. and U Uranium. were generated_______ .

Accepted Answer

A)  by the Sun and expelled to the solar system via the solar wind 
B)  during collapse of a star and subsequent nuclear synthesis in a supernova 
C)  by humans in nuclear reactors 
D)  during the big band when the universe was formed 
A)  by the Sun and expelled to the solar system via the solar wind 
B)  during collapse of a star and subsequent nuclear synthesis in a supernova 
C)  by humans in nuclear reactors 
D)  during the big band when the universe was formed

Question 18

Which of the following minerals is a silicate?

Accepted Answer

A)  halite 
B)  feldspar 
C)  hematite 
D)  calcite 
A)  halite 
B)  feldspar 
C)  hematite 
D)  calcite

Question 19

Gypsum, which is widely used in plaster and wallboard, is a member of the __________group.

Accepted Answer

A)  silicate 
B)  halide 
C)  carbonate 
D)  sulfate 
A)  silicate 
B)  halide 
C)  carbonate 
D)  sulfate

Question 20

What theory dramatically improved geologist's ability to predict where certain ore deposits were formed?

Accepted Answer

A)  quantum mechanics 
B)  plate tectonics 
C)  faulting theory 
D)  geosynclines 
A)  quantum mechanics 
B)  plate tectonics 
C)  faulting theory 
D)  geosynclines

Exam 2: Matter and Minerals

The octet rule states that atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons until they are surrounded by____ valence electrons.

Examine the words and/or phrases below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option that does not fit the pattern.

Diamond and graphite are both minerals composed of________ .

The atomic particle that carries a positive charge is called an_______ .

Cleavage is related to the________ of a mineral.

Many metals are extracted from ores that contain____ minerals.

Joe Geologist discovers a vein made up primarily of quartz but also containing significant amounts of pyrite as well as chalcopyrite. He knows better than to fall for fool's gold, and decides to ignore the vein. Did he make the right decision? Explain.

Silicon- oxygen bonds are_______ and cause cleavage to be_________ in silicate minerals.

Which of the following minerals is not a chemical compound?

1 gram is defined as the mass of 1 cubic centimeter of water. A cubic centimeter of quartz weighs 2.65 g and a cubic centimeter of galena weighs 7.5 g. The density of these materials from highest to lowest is__________ .

Wood floats in water and rocks sink; thus, the density of wood is______________ .

Dolomite is a magnesium- rich member of the______ group.

What does the tendency of micas to produce thin cleavage flakes suggest about its crystal structure?

A cubic centimeter of quartz, olivine, and gold weighs 2.5, 3.0, and 19.8 grams, respectively. This indicates that______ .

Which common mineral is composed entirely of silicon and oxygen?

Heavy elements like Pb lead. and U Uranium. were generated_______ .

Which of the following minerals is a silicate?

Gypsum, which is widely used in plaster and wallboard, is a member of the __________group.

What theory dramatically improved geologist's ability to predict where certain ore deposits were formed?

Introduction to Earth Science

Rocks: Materials of the Solid Earth

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Earthquakes and Earths Interior

Volcanoes and Other Igneous Activity

Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

Weathering, Soil, and Mass Movement

Running Water and Groundwater

Glaciers, Deserts, and Wind

Geologic Time

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

The Ocean Floor

Ocean Water and Ocean Life

The Dynamic Ocean

The Atmosphere: Composition, Structure, and Temperature

Moisture, Clouds, and Precipitation

Air Pressure and Wind

Weather Patterns and Severe Storms

World Climates and Global Climate Change

Origins of Modern Astronomy

Touring Our Solar System

Light, Telescopes, and the Sun

Beyond Our Solar System

Filters

Silicon- oxygen bonds are_ and cause cleavage to be___ in silicate minerals.