Minerals & Rocks Review Qs
Base your answers to questions 1 through 3 on the drawings of six sedimentary rocks labeled A through F.
1. Most of the rocks shown were formed by(1) compaction and/or cementation (3) heat and pressure(2) melting and/or solidification (4) volcanic eruptions and crystallization
2. Which two rocks are composed primarily of quartz, feldspar, and clay minerals?(1) rock salt and breccia (3) sandstone and limestone(2) rock salt and conglomerate (4) sandstone and shale
3. Which table shows the rocks correctly classified by texture?
(1) (3)
(2) (4)
4. Most rock gypsum is formed by the(1) heating of previously existing foliated
bedrock(2) compaction and cementation of shells and
skeletal remains(3) chemical precipitation of minerals from
seawater(4) cooling and solidification of lava
5. Which mineral can be found in granite, andesite, gneiss, and hornfels?(1) olivine (3) biotite mica(2) pyroxene (4) quartz
Page 1
Minerals & Rocks Review QsBase your answers to questions 6 through 8 on the table below which provides information about the crystal sizes and the mineral compositions of four igneous rocks, A, B, C, and D.
6. Rock B most likely is(1) conglomerate (2) schist (3) obsidian (4) peridotite
7. Which characteristic of rock B could be caused by the minerals pyroxene and olivine?(1) folded layers (2) green color (3) metallic luster (4) felsic composition
8. The mineral quartz in rock A is composed of the two most abundant elements by mass in Earth's crust. These two elements are oxygen and(1) magnesium (2) lead (3) iron (4) silicon
9. Base your answer to the following question on the rock sample shown below.
The average size of the pebbles in the sample is approximately(1) 1.2 cm (3) 0.2 cm(2) 13.2 cm (4) 6.4 cm
10. Which type of rock most likely contains fossils?(1) shale (3) scoria(2) gabbro (4) schist
11. Although more than 2,000 minerals have been identified, 90% of Earth's lithosphere is composed of the 12 minerals listed below.
The best explanation for this fact is that most rocks(1) have a 10% nonmineral composition(2) have a number of minerals in common(3) are composed only of recrystallized minerals(4) are monomineralic
Page 2
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs12. Which rock is usually composed of several
different minerals?(1) gneiss (3) rock gypsum(2) chemical limestone (4) quartzite
13. The table below shows the hardness of four common materials.
Which statement best describes the hardness of the mineral dolomite?(1) Dolomite can scratch a copper penny, but
cannot be scratched by a steel nail.(2) Dolomite can scratch window glass, but can
not be scratched by a steel nail.(3) Dolomite can scratch window glass, but can
not be scratched by a fingernail.(4) Dolomite can scratch a copper penny, but
cannot be scratched by a fingernail.
14. The table below shows some observed physical properties of a mineral.
Based on these observations, the elements that make up this mineral's composition are(1) oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and iron(2) sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen(3) oxygen, silicon, hydrogen, and magnesium(4) sulfur and lead
Page 3
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs15. The diagram below shows four mineral samples, each having approximately the same mass.
If all four samples are placed together in a closed, dry container and shaken vigorously for 10 minutes, which mineral sample would experience the most abrasion?(1) pyroxene (2) amphibole (3) galena (4) quartz
16. Base your answer to the following question on the photograph below. The photograph shows several broken samples of the same colorless mineral.
Which physical property of this mineral is most easily seen in the photograph?(1) cleavage (3) hardness(2) fracture (4) streak
17. Which home-building material is made mostly from the mineral gypsum?(1) drywall panels (3) iron nails(2) window glass (4) plastic pipes
18. A human fingernail has a hardness of approximately 2.5. Which two minerals are softer than a human fingernail?(1) graphite and talc (3) pyrite and magnetite(2) sulfur and fluorite (4) calcite and halite
19. The internal atomic structure of a mineral most likely determines the mineral's(1) hardness, cleavage, and crystal shape(2) origin, exposure, and fracture(3) color, streak, and age(4) size, location, and luster
20. How are the minerals biotite mica and muscovite mica different?(1) Muscovite mica scratches quartz, but biotite
mica does not.(2) Muscovite mica cleaves into thin sheets, but
biotite mica does not.(3) Biotite mica contains iron and/or
magnesium, but muscovite mica does not.(4) Biotite mica is colorless, but muscovite mica
is not.
21. Which of the following elements is not found in Plagioclase Feldspar?(1) Na (3) Si(2) Pb (4) Al
22. Which mineral is composed of Calcium and Flourine?(1) Hematite (3) Calcite(2) Amphiboles (4) Fluorite
23. Which property of the mineral diamond allows diamond powder to be used to shape gems for jewelry?(1) luster (3) cleavage(2) crystal shape (4) hardness
Page 4
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs24. The data table below shows the composition of
six common rock-forming minerals.
The data table provides evidence that(1) all elements are found in all minerals(2) a few elements are found in many minerals(3) all elements are found in only a few minerals(4) the same elements are found in all minerals
25. The diagram below shows how a sample of the mineral mica breaks when hit with a rock hammer.
This mineral breaks in smooth, flat surfaces because it(1) has a regular arrangement of atoms(2) contains large amounts of iron(3) is very hard(4) is very dense
26. The cleavage or fracture of a mineral is normally determined by the mineral's(1) position among surrounding minerals(2) oxygen content(3) internal arrangement of atoms(4) density
Page 5
Minerals & Rocks Review QsBase your answers to questions 27 through 29 on the two tables below and on your knowledge of Earth science. Table 1 shows the composition, hardness, and average density of four minerals often used as gemstones. Table 2 lists the minerals in Moh’s Scale of Hardness from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).
27. The hardness and density of each gemstone is based primarily on the gemstone’s(1) geologic time of formation (3) oxygen content(2) natural abundance (4) internal arrangement of atoms
28. Sapphire is a gemstone variety of which mineral on Moh’s scale of hardness?(1) topaz (2) diamond (3) fluorite (4) corundum
29. Part of a gemstone’s value is based on the way the gemstone shines in reflected light. The way a mineral reflects light is described as the mineral’s(1) luster (2) hardness (3) streak (4) fracture
30. The diagram below represents top and side views of a model of the silicate tetrahedron.
This tetrahedron is found in large amounts in the Earth's(1) hydrosphere (3) troposphere(2) stratosphere (4) lithosphere
Page 6
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs31. The diagram below represents a part of the crystal structure of the mineral kaolinite.
An arrangement of atoms such as the one shown in the diagram determines a mineral’s(1) temperature of formation (3) physical properties(2) infiltration rate (4) age of formation
32. Which diagram best represents the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron of which talc, feldspar, and quartz are composed?
(1)
(3)
(2)
(4)
33. Which element combines with silicon to form the tetrahedral unit of structure of the silicate minerals?(1) oxygen (3) hydrogen(2) nitrogen (4) potassium
Page 7
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs34. Which model best represents the silicon-oxygen
tetrahedron?
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
35. Two minerals made of pure carbon are diamond and graphite. Which statement best explains why diamond is so much more resistant to scratching than graphite?(1) The atoms are lighter in graphite than in
diamond.(2) The atoms are heavier in graphite than in
diamond.(3) The atoms are bonded together more
strongly in diamond than in graphite.(4) The atoms are smaller in graphite than in
diamond.
36. Fossils would most likely be found in a sample of(1) granite (3) metaconglomerate(2) limestone (4) quartzite
37. The diagram below represents a basic atomic structure that forms when oxygen and silicon unite.
This structure is called a(1) sphere (3) tetrahedron(2) cube (4) cylinder
38. Two mineral samples have different physical properties, but each contains silicate tetrahedrons as its basic structural unit. Which statement about the two mineral samples must be true?(1) They have the same density.(2) They are similar in appearance.(3) They contain silicon and oxygen.(4) They are the same mineral.
39. Which object is the best model of the shape of a silicon-oxygen structural unit?
(1) (3)
(2) (4)
40. A student obtains a cup of quartz sand from a beach. A saltwater solution is poured into the sand and allowed to evaporate. The mineral residue from the saltwater solution cements the sand grains together, forming a material that is most similar in origin to(1) a clastic sedimentary rock(2) a foliated metamorphic rock(3) an intrusive igneous rock(4) an extrusive igneous rock
Page 8
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs41. The diagram below shows a drill core of
sediment that was taken from the bottom of a lake.
Which types of rock would most likely form from compaction and cementation of these sediments?(1) sandstone and limestone(2) shale and coal(3) breccia and rock salt(4) conglomerate and siltstone
42. Particles of sediment collected from a lake bottom averaged 1.2 centimeters in diameter. If left on the lake bottom to become buried by more sediment and compressed into rock, these particles would form(1) sandstone (3) quartzite(2) conglomerate (4) granite
43. A rock is composed of several large, rounded pebbles and sand grains cemented together. Which inference about the rock is best supported by this description?(1) The rock is igneous.(2) The rock is sedimentary.(3) The rock resulted from evaporation of sea
water.(4) The rock is older than the pebbles.
44. Which feature is characteristic of sedimentary rocks?(1) distorted structure (3) glassy texture(2) layering (4) foliation
Page 9
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs45. The profile below shows the average diameter of sediment that was sorted and deposited in specific areas A, B,
C, and D by a stream entering an ocean.
As compaction and cementation of these sediments eventually occur, which area will become sandstone?(1) A (2) B (3) C (4) D
46. Base your answer to the following question on the diagram below, which represents a rock sample containing fossilized Coelophysis footprints.
The siltstone layer containing the dinosaur footprints was turned into rock by(1) folding and faulting(2) burial and cementation(3) deformation and melting(4) weathering and erosion
47. Which sedimentary rocks are clastic and consist of particles that have diameters smaller than 0.006 centimeter?(1) siltstone and shale(2) conglomerate and sandstone(3) fossil limestone and chemical limestone(4) bituminous coal and breccia
48. Which sedimentary rock is formed by compaction and cementation of land-derived sediments?(1) siltstone (3) rock salt(2) dolostone (4) rock gypsum
Page 10
Minerals & Rocks Review QsBase your answers to questions 49 and 50 on the diagram below, which represents a cross section of rock layers that have not been overturned.
49. The breccia layer is composed mostly of(1) cemented, rounded rock fragments (3) cemented, angular rock fragments(2) intergrown, fine-textured crystals (4) microscopic shells
50. Within which rock type would a fossil most likely be found?
(1) (2) (3) (4)
51. The diagram below shows a sedimentary rock drawn actual size.
This rock is classified as having a(1) clastic texture consisting of mixed grain sizes(2) elastic texture consisting of sand-size
particles(3) nonclastic texture with mixed grain sizes(4) nonclastic texture with coarse-grained
particles
52. Which statement about the formation of a rock is best supported by geologic evidence?(1) Sedimentary rock must melt before it can
change to metamorphic rock.(2) Sediment must be compacted and cemented
before it can change to sedimentary rock.(3) Metamorphic rock must melt before it can
change to sedimentary rock.(4) Magma must be weathered before it can
change to metamorphic rock.
53. Which bedrock would be most likely to contain fossils?(1) Cambrian shale(2) Pleistocene basalt(3) Precambrian granite(4) Middle-Proterozoic quartzite
Page 11
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs54. Which symbol represents the sedimentary rock
with the smallest grain size?
(1) (3)
(2) (4)
55. Which land-derived sedimentary rock could have formed by the compaction and cementation of particles smaller than 0.0003 centimeter in diameter?(1) limestone (3) shale(2) sandstone (4) siltstone
56. Which processes most often cause fossil evidence to be preserved in rock?(1) folding and metamorphism(2) weathering and erosion(3) melting and faulting(4) deposition and cementation
57. Which group lists rocks in order by grain size from smallest to largest?(1) conglomerate, sandstone, shale(2) sandstone, shale, conglomerate(3) shale, conglomerate, sandstone(4) shale, sandstone, conglomerate
58. Dolostone is classified as which type of rock?(1) nonfoliated metamorphic rock(2) foliated metamorphic rock(3) land-derived sedimentary rock(4) chemically formed sedimentary rock
59. Which process most likely formed a layer of the sedimentary rock, gypsum?(1) melting of sand-sized particles(2) precipitation from seawater(3) folding of clay-sized particles(4) solidification of magma
Page 12
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs60. Base your answer to the following question on the maps below, which show changes in the distribution of land
and water in the Mediterranean Sea region that scientists believe took place over a period of 6 million years.
Which type of rock was precipitated from seawater as the Mediterranean Sea evaporated between million years ago and 5.5 million years ago?(1) rock salt (2) sandstone (3) metaconglomerate (4) basalt
61. Large deposits of rock gypsum and rock salt usually form in areas of(1) shallow evaporating seas(2) fault zones in the crust(3) active volcanoes(4) continental ice sheets
62. The chemical precipitation of dissolved minerals from ocean water results in the formation of(1) coarse-grained igneous rock(2) sedimentary rock(3) fine-grained igneous rock(4) metamorphic rock
63. Which type of rock is represented by the map symbol below?
(1) regional metamorphic rock with block like foliation
(2) chemically formed sedimentary rock that consists mainly of the mineral calcite
(3) clastic sedimentary rock formed from organic substances
(4) contact metamorphic rock that results from the alteration of limestone by contact with an igneous intrusion
Page 13
Minerals & Rocks Review QsBase your answers to questions 64 and 65 on the block diagram below which shows a cross section of Earth's crust. Letter A identifies a lake, and letters B through G represent different types of bedrock.
64. Rock C most likely resulted from the(1) precipitation of minerals from evaporating water(2) rapid cooling of lava from volcanic eruptions .(3) compaction and cementation of angular quartz fragments(4) regional metamorphism of a previously existing rock
65. The rock produced at point H is most likely(1) quartzite (2) gneiss (3) slate (4) marble
66. The presence of brachiopod, nautiloid, and coral fossils in the surface bedrock of a certain area indicates the area was once covered by(1) volcanic ash (3) ocean water(2) tropical vegetation (4) glacial deposits
67. Which rock was organically formed and sometimes contains fossilized plant impressions?(1) breccia (3) rock gypsum(2) phyllite (4) coal
68. Which igneous rock has a vesicular texture and contains the minerals potassium feldspar and quartz?(1) pumice (3) andesite(2) scoria (4) pegmatite
Page 14
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs69. The sequence of diagrams below represents the gradual geologic changes in layer X, located just below Earth’s
surface.
Which type of sedimentary rock was formed at layer X?(1) shale (2) coal (3) rock salt (4) conglomerate
70. Which intrusive igneous rock could be composed of approximately 60% pyroxene, 25% plagioclase feldspar, 10% olivine, and 5% amphibole?(1) gabbro (3) basalt(2) rhyolite (4) granite
71. Biotite mica and muscovite mica have different chemical compositions. Compared to the magma from which biotite mica forms, the magma from which muscovite mica forms is usually(1) more felsic and more dense(2) more mafic and less dense(3) more felsic and less dense(4) more mafic and more dense
72. Which igneous rock, when weathered, could produce sediment composed of the minerals potassium feldspar, quartz, and amphibole?(1) basalt (3) granite(2) andesite (4) gabbro
Page 15
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs73. The diagram below represents the fossils found
in a bedrock formation located in central Rhode Island.
In which type of rock were the fossils most likely found?(1) igneous rock that formed in a land
environment(2) igneous rock that formed in an ocean
environment(3) sedimentary rock that formed in a land
environment(4) sedimentary rock that formed in an ocean
environment
74. Which process could lead directly to the formation of pumice rock?(1) precipitation of minerals from evaporating
seawater(2) metamorphism of unmelted rock material(3) explosive eruption of lava from a volcano(4) deposition of quartz sand
75. Which three minerals are most commonly found in the igneous rock granite?(1) plagioclase feldspar, potassium feldspar, and
quartz(2) amphibole, biotite mica, and gypsum(3) plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene, and olivine(4) amphibole, calcite, and hematite
76. Base your answer to the following question on the map below. The black triangle represents Mt. Hekla, a volcano in Iceland. The isolines represent the thickness of ash, in centimeters, that settled on Earth’s surface after a volcanic eruption of Mt. Hekla on March 29, 1947. Point X is a location on the surface of the ash.
In addition to the ash, solid rock formed on Mt. Hekla from the lava extruded during this eruption. This rock is most likely(1) fine-grained igneous(2) light-colored metamorphic(3) coarse-grained igneous(4) dark-colored metamorphic
77. When granite melts and then solidifies, it becomes(1) a sedimentary rock (3) sediments(2) an igneous rock (4) a metamorphic rock
Page 16
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs78. The photograph below shows the intergrown
crystals of a pegmatite rock.
Which characteristic provides the best evidence that this pegmatite solidified deep underground?(1) felsic composition (3) very coarse texture(2) light color (4) low density
79. Which rock most probably formed directly from lava cooling quickly at Earth’s surface?
(1) (3)
(2) (4)
80. Which common rock is formed from the solidification of molten material?(1) rhyolite (3) rock gypsum(2) slate (4) coal
Page 17
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs81. The graph below shows the relationship between the cooling time of magma and the size of the crystals
produced.
Which graph correctly shows the relative positions of the igneous rocks granite, rhyolite, and pumice?
(1) (2) (3) (4)
82. The photograph below shows actual crystal sizes in a light-colored igneous rock that contains several minerals, including potassium feldspar, quartz, and biotite mica.
The rock should be identified as(1) granite (3) rhyolite(2) gabbro (4) basalt
83. Compared to felsic igneous rocks, mafic igneous rocks contain greater amounts of(1) iron (3) aluminum(2) white quartz (4) pink feldspar
84. An extrusive igneous rock with a mineral composition of 35% quartz, 35% potassium feldspar, 15% plagioclase feldspar, 10% biotite, and 5% amphibole is called(1) rhyolite (3) gabbro(2) granite (4) basaltic glass
85. Which process is necessary for the formation of igneous rocks?(1) deposition (3) solidification(2) erosion (4) metamorphism
86. For an igneous rock to be classified as rhyolite, it must be light colored, be fine grained, and contain(1) quartz (3) calcite(2) pyroxene (4) olivine
Page 18
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs87. Wavy bands of light and dark minerals visible in
gneiss bedrock probably formed from the(1) cooling and crystallization of magma(2) evaporation of an ancient ocean(3) cementing together of individual miner
grains(4) heat and pressure during metamorphism
88. The rock shown below has a foliated texture and contains the minerals amphibole, quartz, and feldspar arranged in coarse-grained bands.
Which rock is shown?(1) quartzite (3) gneiss(2) dunite (4) slate
89. Which physical characteristic best describes the rock phyllite?(1) bioclastic texture with cemented shell
fragments(2) glassy texture with gas pockets(3) foliated texture with microscopic mica
crystals(4) clastic texture with angular fragments
90. During the Permian Period, sedimentary bedrock in the Appalachian Region was subjected to high temperature and pressure. Calcite deposits that had existed in this environment would most likely have formed(1) gabbro (3) marble(2) schist (4) gneiss
91. Which nonfoliated rock forms only in a zone of contact metamorphism?(1) hornfels (3) quartzite(2) pegmatite (4) conglomerate
92. During the intrusion of the Palisades Sill, contact metamorphism changed sandstone and shale into(1) marble (3) hornfels(2) diorite (4) limestone
93. Which rock is foliated, shows mineral alignment but not banding, and contains medium-sized grains of quartz and pyroxene?(1) phyllite (3) schist(2) quartzite (4) gneiss
94. Which two kinds of adjoining bedrock would most likely have a zone of contact metamorphism between them?(1) limestone and sandstone(2) shale and conglomerate(3) limestone and granite(4) shale and sandstone
95. Which sedimentary rock is most likely to be changed to slate during regional metamorphism?(1) breccia (3) shale(2) conglomerate (4) dolostone
96. Which diagram represents a landscape where fine-grained igneous bedrock is most likely to be found?(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Page 19
Minerals & Rocks Review Qs97. The diagram below shows four rock samples.
Which sample best shows the physical properties normally associated with regional metamorphism?(1) A (2) B (3) C (4) D
98. Rocks are classified as igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic based primarily on their(1) method of formation (3) crystal or grain size(2) texture (4) mineral composition
99. Rocks can be classified as sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic based primarily upon differences in their(1) color (3) age(2) density (4) origin
100. The diagram below represents a sample of a rock.
This rock would be classified as metamorphic because it shows(1) distorted banding(2) crystals from precipitation(3) an organic composition(4) a mixture of minerals
101. Which characteristic of an igneous rock would provide the most information about the environment in which the rock solidified?(1) streak (3) color(2) texture (4) hardness
102. Which rocks form relatively thin layers, compared to the thickness of the continent, over large areas of the continents?(1) intrusive igneous rocks(2) granite and gabbro(3) sandstone and shale(4) metamorphic rocks
103. Base your answer to the following question on the geologic cross section shown below.
At which location is metamorphic rock most likely to be found?(1) A (3) C(2) B (4) D
Page 20
Minerals & Rocks Review QsBase your answers to questions 104 and 105 on the hardness of the minerals talc, quartz, halite, sulfur, and fluorite.
104. On the grid above, construct a bar graph to represent the hardness of these minerals.
105. Which mineral shown on the grid would be the best abrasive? State one reason for your choice.
Page 21
Minerals & Rocks Review QsAnswer Key
Minerals & Rocks Review QsAnswer Key
1. 1
2. 4
3. 4
4. 3
5. 4
6. 4
7. 2
8. 4
9. 1
10. 1
11. 2
12. 1
13. 4
14. 3
15. 3
16. 1
17. 1
18. 1
19. 1
20. 3
21. 2
22. 4
23. 4
24. 2
25. 1
26. 3
27. 4
28. 4
29. 1
30. 4
31. 3
32. 4
33. 1
34. 1
35. 3
36. 2
37. 3
38. 3
39. 3
40. 1
41. 1
42. 2
43. 2
44. 2
45. 2
46. 2
47. 1
48. 1
49. 3
50. 2
51. 1
52. 2
53. 1
54. 3
55. 3
56. 4
57. 4
58. 4
59. 2
60. 1
61. 1
62. 2
63. 2
64. 1
65. 1
66. 3
67. 4
68. 1
69. 2
70. 1
71. 3
72. 3
73. 4
74. 3
75. 1
76. 1
77. 2
78. 3
79. 1
80. 1
81. 2
82. 1
83. 1
84. 1
85. 3
86. 1
87. 4
88. 3
89. 3
90. 3
91. 1
92. 3
93. 3
94. 3
95. 3
96. 3
97. 1
98. 1
99. 4
100. 1
Minerals & Rocks Review QsAnswer Key
101. 2
102. 3
103. 2
104.
105. Examples: –hardest mineral shown –hardness of 7 –Quartz has the same hardness as garnet, which is used as an abrasive.