A hammer can be used to see how a mineral breaks. If you observe square chunks of the mineral when broken, what can you conclude? (2 points)
a
The mineral is soft.
b
The mineral is hard.
c
The mineral does not have cleavage.
To determine the answer, we need to understand the concept of mineral cleavage. Mineral cleavage refers to the tendency of a mineral to break along specific planes of weakness, resulting in smooth and flat surfaces.
In this scenario, if you observe square chunks of the mineral when broken using a hammer, it suggests that the mineral does not have cleavage. When a mineral lacks cleavage, it means it does not break along specific planes and instead fractures irregularly or conchoidally, resulting in non-smooth surfaces.
Therefore, the correct conclusion based on square chunks when a mineral is broken is option c: The mineral does not have cleavage.