Types of Minerals — Quiz

Question 10 • Earth and Space Science

Which statement best explains why Specimen C-33 is classified as an oxide mineral rather than a native element?

Answer

The metallic luster of C-33 makes it resemble a native metal, but luster is a physical property that is not used to classify minerals.

The cubic arrangement of atoms shows a regular crystalline form, which is enough to prove that C-33 is an oxide mineral.

The bonding of oxygen with iron makes C-33 a compound, while native elements are defined by containing only a single pure element.

The high density of C-33 results from tightly packed atoms, but classification is based solely on appearance, not on how heavy a sample feels.

Explanation

An oxide mineral contains oxygen chemically bonded to another element, such as iron in an iron oxide. That makes C-33 a compound; a native element, by definition, consists of just one element. Metallic luster or a cubic crystal arrangement does not determine whether a mineral is an oxide or a native element.

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