Mini Miners Monthly

January 2012

True or False Answers

1.         False.  A phantom specimen . . .

2.         False.  Silver crystallizes in the isometric or cubic system.

3.         True:  malleable.  False:  metallic luster.  True: native element.

4.         True.

5.         True.

6.         True.

7.         False.  Asbestos.

8.         True.

9.         False: it is an ore of molybdenum.  True, it is named after molybdenum.

10.         True.

11.      False: topaz is 8 on the hardness scale.  True.  False:  the luster is vitreous.

12.      False:  it belongs to the mineral group feldspar.

13.      True: diamond is the hardest substance.  False:  diamond is 10 on the hardness scale.  True: colored diamonds are “fancy” diamonds.

14.      False:  blue beryl is aquamarine.  True: beryl was a source of beryllium.

15.      True!

16.      True.

17.      False: chalcedony is a variety of the mineral quartz.  There are different varieties of chalcedony including those listed.

18.      True

19.      True.

20.      True.

21.      False:  gypsum is number 2 on the hardness scale.  It is so soft it can be scratched with your fingernail.

22.      True: hematite is an important iron ore.  False:  hematite’s streak is always blood-red.  This is its most distinguishing physical property.

23.      False.  All facts about wulfenite here are correct except that wulfenite crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system.

24.      True:  fluorite is 4 on the hardness scale.  False:  fluorite has perfect octahedral cleavage which means it breaks into diamond-shaped pieces (with 8 faces).

25.      True and True.

26.      False:  Pyrite is also known as “Fool’s Gold.”  True: pyrite has been used to create fire.  False: pyrite is named after the Greek word pur which means “Fire.”

27.      True.

28.      True and True.

29.      True.

30.      False.  Copper is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.  That is why it is used to make electrical wires and high-quality cooking pots.

31.      False.  Talc is number 1 on the hardness scale:  it is the softest mineral.

32.      True.  True.  And True!

33.      False.  This mineral is cerussite.  Calcite is not an ore mineral.

34.      True.  This is a cool mineral fact, isn’t it?

35.      False.  It is one of the important sources of the element, vanadium.  It is not named after “mini vans” but after  its high vanadium content.

36.      True.

37.      False.  Clear pieces of calcite have “double refraction.”

38.      False.  They are ores of the metal copper.  False:  Malachite is always green; azurite is always blue.

39.      True.

40.      True.  True.

41.      False: it is the birthstone for the month of February.

42.      True.

43.      False: the mineral name for salt is halite.  True: it is called rock salt when found in massive layers.

44.      False: all the galena facts are true EXCEPT it has perfect cubic cleavage.  This is an important physical feature of galena.

45.      True.

46.      True, true, very, very true.

47.      True.

48.      False:  it is called cinnabar.

49.      False.  Garnets crystallize in the isometric or cubic system.

50.      True.

51.      True.

52.      False.  Hexagonal crystals have 6 sides.  False:  quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the earth’s continental crust.

53.      False:  Muscovite belongs to the group of minerals called “micas.”  The other facts are true.

54.      True.

55.      True.

January Issue

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