Which items are TRUE about minerals? Select the three correct answers.(2 points)
Responses
Rocks are the components that make up minerals.
Rocks are the components that make up minerals.
Minerals are the components that make up rocks.
Minerals are the components that make up rocks.
Observing one property is often the best way to identify minerals.
Observing one property is often the best way to identify minerals.
Minerals are naturally occurring substances.
Minerals are naturally occurring substances.
Minerals can only be identified by their color and hardness.
Minerals can only be identified by their color and hardness.
Minerals are made of one element or one compound of elements.
The following statements about minerals are TRUE:
1. Minerals are the components that make up rocks.
Minerals are natural, inorganic substances that are the building blocks of rocks. Several minerals can come together to form a rock, and therefore, rocks can be made up of one or more kinds of minerals.
2. Minerals are naturally occurring substances.
Minerals are naturally occurring, solid inorganic substances with a crystalline structure, a specific chemical composition, and distinctive physical properties. They are not man-made and can be found occurring in nature.
3. Minerals are made of one element or one compound of elements.
Minerals are made up of elements. These can be a single element, like gold (Au), or a compound of elements, like quartz (SiO2). Each mineral has its own specific chemical composition.
The other statements are FALSE:
- Rocks are not the components that make up minerals; it is the other way around.
- Observing one property is usually not sufficient to identify a mineral. It's often necessary to observe multiple properties such as streak, luster, hardness, cleavage, and more.
- Minerals cannot only be identified by their color and hardness. They have a variety of properties, and identification requires looking at more than just these two.