Elementary Minerals

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. The emerald is a type of beryl. The distinctive green color of the emerald derives from trace amounts of what metallic elements? iron and copper copper and aluminum aluminum and gold chromium and vanadium

2. Turquoise was mentioned in the introduction. Its characteristic blue or green color comes from the combination of a metallic element with aluminum and oxygen. What is this metallic element? iron copper manganese uranium

3. Rubies are a type of corundum. What metallic element combines with oxygen to form this mineral? iron strontium copper aluminum

4. Tsavorite is a variety of garnet that is green. The color comes from trace amounts of vanadium and chromium. Garnet is a silicate containing what two metals? copper and aluminum magnesium and aluminum iron and copper silver and gold

5. Sugilite, also known as luvulite is valued for its striking purple color. It is a very complex silicate that crystallizes in the hexagonal structure. What element is not found in this mineral? sodium potassium aluminum copper

6. Polished hematite is commonly used in magnetic jewelry. What is the metallic element that gives hematite its magnetic properties? manganese nickel iron chromium

7. Malachite has a distinctive green color, which is sometimes banded. It is often found in combination with azurite, a striking sky-blue stone. Both of these minerals are carbonates of what metal? aluminum iron copper manganese

8. Lapis lazuli, also known as simply lapis, is a semi-precious stone that has been mined in Afghanistan for over 6,000 years. Lazurite, the main component of lapis is a complex silicate. What element is not contained in lazurite? copper calcium sodium aluminum

9. Tiger's eye is a type of mineral that derives from the replacement of crocidalite with quartz. The mineral in crocidalite of which traces remain and that impart the golden color are an oxide of what metallic element? silver copper iron gold

10. Aquamarine is a beryl whose color like the sea is imparted by iron ions. Beryl is a a silicate of two metals. What are these metals? iron and copper beryllium and aluminum beryllium and gold copper and manganese