1. Hardness of a mineral depends upon ___________
a) Chemical composition
b) Atomic constitution
c) Chemical composition and atomic constitution
d) Physical makeup
Explanation: Hardness may be defined as the resistance, which a mineral offers to an external deformation action such as scratching, abrasion, rubbing or indentation. Hardness of a mineral depends on its chemical composition and atomic constitution.
2. The scale of hardness is?
a) Ritcher
b) Mohs
c) Ohm
d) Mho
Explanation: It was in 1822 that Austrian mineralogist F.Mohs proposed a relative, broadly quantitative “scale of hardness” of minerals assigning values between 1 and 10.
3. Hardness of human nail varies between ___________
a) 0.5 to 1.5
b) 3 to 4
c) 1.5 to 2.5
d) 2.5 to 3.5
Explanation: Some common materials have been assigned hardness values according to Mohs scale and may prove useful in determination of hardness of an unknown mineral quickly. Hardness of human finger nail varies between 1.5 and 2.5
4. Hardness is which kind of property?
a) Isotropic
b) Anisotropic
c) Homogenous
d) Non-homogenous
Explanation: Hardness is an anisotropic property; a mineral may show different values in different directions.
5. How does hardness vary with decomposition?
a) Increases with decomposition
b) Decreases with decomposition
c) Does not change
d) Either decreases or increases
Explanation: Hardness decreases on the decomposition of a mineral due to atmospheric attack on the surface. Hence, it must be checked on unweathered and unaltered surfaces.
6. Hardness is a relative property.
a) True
b) False
Explanation: Hardness is a relative property. If talc has H=1 and Quartz H=7, it does not indicate quartz is seven times harder than talc.
7. The tendency of a crystallized mineral to break along certain directions yielding more or less smooth, plane surfaces is ___________
a) Tenacity
b) Hardness
c) Cleavage
d) Fracture
Explanation: Cleavage is defined as the tendency of a crystallized mineral to break along certain directions yielding more or less smooth, plane surfaces. In other words, cleavage are the planes easiest fractures and are essentially indicative of directions of least cohesion.
8. Cleavage is described in terms of ___________
a) Number of direction
b) Degree of perfect splitting
c) Degree of cracking
d) Degree of perfect splitting and number of direction
Explanation: Cleavage is described both in terms of a number of directions in which it is observed on a mineral and also in terms of the degree of perfect splitting.
9. The type of cleavage due to the mineral can be split very easily is ___________
a) Eminent cleavage
b) Distinct cleavage
c) Basal cleavage
d) Cubic cleavage
Explanation: In terms of perfection, the cleavage is described as eminent, perfect, good, distinct and indistinct in that order. In eminent cleavage, the mineral can be split very easily yielding extremely smooth surfaces, e.g., in mica.
10. Mineral which shows parting is ___________
a) Orthoclase
b) Calcite
c) Mica
d) Corundum
Explanation: Parting is a property of minerals by virtue of which it can be split easily along certain secondary planes. Best example of parting can be seen in corundum where cleavage may be absent but parting may be very prominent