Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “Physical Properties – 03”.
1. 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
Answer: c
Clarification: 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.
2. Hardness is which kind of property?
a) Isotropic
b) Anisotropic
c) Homogenous
d) Non-homogenous
Answer: b
Clarification: Hardness is an anisotropic property; a mineral may show different values in different directions.
3. How does hardness vary with decomposition?
a) Increases with decomposition
b) Decreases with decomposition
c) Does not change
d) Either decreases or increases
Answer: b
Clarification: 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.
4. Hardness is a relative property.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: 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.
5. 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
Answer: c
Clarification: 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.
6. 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
Answer: d
Clarification: 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.
7. 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
Answer: a
Clarification: 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.
8. Mineral which shows parting is ___________
a) Orthoclase
b) Calcite
c) Mica
d) Corundum
Answer: d
Clarification: 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.
9. Pick the wrong statement about the fracture.
a) It is the broken surface of a mineral along the direction of cleavage
b) It is the broken surface of a mineral in a direction other than that of cleavage
c) In some cases it becomes a characteristic property of a mineral
d) Even and uneven are examples of fractures
Answer: a
Clarification: The appearance of the broken surface of a mineral in a direction other than that of cleavage is generally expressed by the term fracture. In some cases, fracture becomes a characteristic property of a mineral.
10. The term which means, rough woody fracture is ___________
a) Uneven
b) Conchoidal
c) Splintry
d) Hackly
Answer: c
Clarification: When the mineral breaks with a rough woody fracture resulting in rough projection at the surface it is known as sprintly fracture. Example, Kyanite.
11. The behaviour of a mineral towards the forces that tend to destroy it is called ___________
a) Hardness
b) Resistance
c) Tenacity
d) Crystal degree
Answer: c
Clarification: The behaviour of a mineral towards the forces that tend to break, bend, cut or crush it is described by the term tenacity.