Fill in the blanks:
1. Minerals are classified in many ways, including hardness, streak, and _______ properties.
2. There are some minerals that are valued as _______ because of their hardness, color, and beauty.
3. Non-silicates make up less than 10% of Earth's _______; the most common non-silicates are the carbonate, oxides, and sulfides.
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You're welcome! Here are the answers to the fill-in-the-blank questions:
1. Minerals are classified in many ways, including hardness, streak, and PHYSICAL properties.
To determine the hardness of a mineral, we can use the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which ranks minerals on a scale from 1 to 10 based on their resistance to scratching. Streak refers to the color of a mineral's powder when it is scraped across a surface, and it can help identify certain minerals. Other physical properties include luster (the way a mineral reflects light), cleavage and fracture (how a mineral breaks), and density (the mass of a mineral per unit volume).
2. There are some minerals that are valued as GEMSTONES because of their hardness, color, and beauty.
Gemstones are highly valued minerals or rocks that are cut and polished for use in jewelry or other decorative purposes. Their value is often determined by their rarity, beauty, and durability. Examples of gemstones include diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires.
3. Non-silicates make up less than 10% of Earth's CRUST; the most common non-silicates are the carbonate, oxides, and sulfides.
The Earth's crust is the uppermost layer of the Earth's surface, and it is composed mostly of silicate minerals, which contain silicon and oxygen. Non-silicate minerals are those that do not contain silicon and oxygen as their primary components. Carbonates, oxides, and sulfides are some examples of non-silicate minerals. Carbonates, such as calcite (CaCO3), are minerals that contain carbonate ions. Oxides, such as hematite (Fe2O3), are minerals that contain oxygen and other elements. Sulfides, such as pyrite (FeS2), are minerals that contain sulfur and other elements.