Here’s a complete set of 50 multiple-choice questions with answers on Mineralogy, covering all essential subtopics like physical properties, crystal systems, silicates, non-silicates, optical mineralogy, and ore minerals.
🔹 Mineralogy MCQs (1–50)
1. Which of the following is not a physical property of minerals?a) Hardness
b) Streak
c) Density
d) Fusion point
Answer: d
2. The hardest mineral on the Mohs scale is:
a) Quartz
b) Corundum
c) Diamond
d) Topaz
Answer: c
3. Which mineral has a perfect cubic cleavage?
a) Calcite
b) Halite
c) Mica
d) Gypsum
Answer: b
4. The color of the powdered form of a mineral is called:
a) Luster
b) Streak
c) Tint
d) Hue
Answer: b
5. Which mineral exhibits conchoidal fracture?
a) Feldspar
b) Mica
c) Quartz
d) Hornblende
Answer: c
6. A mineral that is strongly magnetic is:
a) Hematite
b) Magnetite
c) Galena
d) Sphalerite
Answer: b
7. Which mineral has a soapy feel and hardness of 1?
a) Gypsum
b) Talc
c) Muscovite
d) Calcite
Answer: b
8. Specific gravity is defined as the ratio of:
a) Mass to volume
b) Weight of mineral to water
c) Mineral density to water density
d) None of the above
Answer: c
9. A mineral with metallic luster and cubic habit is likely:
a) Galena
b) Quartz
c) Calcite
d) Olivine
Answer: a
10. The tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weakness is:
a) Fracture
b) Tenacity
c) Cleavage
d) Elasticity
Answer: c
🔸 Crystal Systems & Structures (11–20)
11. How many crystal systems are there in total?
a) 5
b) 6
c) 7
d) 8
Answer: c
12. Quartz belongs to which crystal system?
a) Isometric
b) Tetragonal
c) Hexagonal
d) Triclinic
Answer: c
13. Which crystal system has three axes of unequal length, all inclined?
a) Monoclinic
b) Triclinic
c) Orthorhombic
d) Tetragonal
Answer: b
14. Isometric crystals have:
a) One axis longer than the other
b) All three axes equal and at 90°
c) One angle not equal to 90°
d) Hexagonal symmetry
Answer: b
15. Calcite belongs to which crystal system?
a) Trigonal
b) Hexagonal
c) Monoclinic
d) Cubic
Answer: a
16. Feldspars are part of which crystal system?
a) Orthorhombic
b) Monoclinic and Triclinic
c) Tetragonal
d) Cubic
Answer: b
17. The Bravais lattices are how many in number?
a) 7
b) 10
c) 14
d) 12
Answer: c
18. The unit cell is defined as:
a) The basic building block of rocks
b) The smallest repeating unit in a crystal
c) The molecular structure of a mineral
d) The atomic weight of a crystal
Answer: b
19. Birefringence is an optical property best seen in which type of crystals?
a) Isotropic
b) Anisotropic
c) Cubic
d) Amorphous
Answer: b
20. The common crystal habit of pyrite is:
a) Hexagonal
b) Tabular
c) Cubic
d) Prismatic
Answer: c
🔸 Silicate and Non-Silicate Minerals (21–30)
21. The basic building block of silicate minerals is:
a) AlO₄ tetrahedron
b) SiO₄ tetrahedron
c) SiO₆ octahedron
d) Al₂SiO₅
Answer: b
22. Which is a sheet silicate mineral?
a) Quartz
b) Feldspar
c) Muscovite
d) Olivine
Answer: c
23. Olivine belongs to which silicate group?
a) Nesosilicates
b) Inosilicates
c) Phyllosilicates
d) Tectosilicates
Answer: a
24. Which of the following is a framework silicate?
a) Pyroxene
b) Quartz
c) Serpentine
d) Amphibole
Answer: b
25. Which mineral is a chain silicate?
a) Biotite
b) Kaolinite
c) Hornblende
d) Magnetite
Answer: c
26. Kaolinite is a type of:
a) Chlorite
b) Clay mineral
c) Sulfide
d) Oxide
Answer: b
27. The mineral group that includes garnet is:
a) Oxides
b) Sulfides
c) Nesosilicates
d) Phyllosilicates
Answer: c
28. A non-silicate carbonate mineral is:
a) Quartz
b) Dolomite
c) Feldspar
d) Mica
Answer: b
29. Hematite is a(n):
a) Oxide
b) Silicate
c) Sulfate
d) Carbonate
Answer: a
30. Which of the following is a halide mineral?
a) Fluorite
b) Magnetite
c) Barite
d) Biotite
Answer: a
🔸 Optical and Advanced Mineralogy (31–40)
31. Under crossed nicols, isotropic minerals appear:
a) Bright
b) Colored
c) Dark
d) Rainbow
Answer: c
32. Interference colors are observed in:
a) Isotropic minerals
b) Anisotropic minerals
c) Amorphous solids
d) All of the above
Answer: b
33. Quartz shows which type of interference figure?
a) Uniaxial
b) Biaxial
c) Isotropic
d) None
Answer: a
34. Pleochroism is most commonly observed in:
a) Isotropic minerals
b) Biaxial minerals
c) Transparent cubic minerals
d) Colored anisotropic minerals
Answer: d
35. Relief in thin section refers to:
a) Birefringence
b) Difference in color
c) Relative refractive index
d) Interference figure
Answer: c
36. The extinction angle in plagioclase is useful in:
a) Estimating iron content
b) Determining composition
c) Measuring hardness
d) Classifying rock type
Answer: b
37. Interference figures are best seen using:
a) Plane-polarized light
b) Crossed nicols with Bertrand lens
c) Uncrossed nicols
d) UV light
Answer: b
38. The optic sign of a mineral can be positive or negative based on:
a) Birefringence
b) Color
c) Refractive index values
d) Pleochroism
Answer: c
39. A biaxial mineral will have:
a) One optic axis
b) Two optic axes
c) Three optic axes
d) No optic axis
Answer: b
40. An example of a uniaxial mineral is:
a) Olivine
b) Quartz
c) Muscovite
d) Feldspar
Answer: b
🔸 Ore Minerals and Economic Mineralogy (41–50)
41. Galena is an ore of:
a) Zinc
b) Lead
c) Silver
d) Copper
Answer: b
42. Hematite is an important ore of:
a) Copper
b) Lead
c) Iron
d) Zinc
Answer: c
43. Chalcopyrite contains:
a) CuFeS₂
b) Cu₂S
c) FeS₂
d) PbS
Answer: a
44. Bauxite is the principal ore of:
a) Iron
b) Copper
c) Aluminum
d) Tin
Answer: c
45. Pyrite is commonly known as:
a) Fool’s gold
b) Rock crystal
c) Black diamond
d) Silver ore
Answer: a
46. Sphalerite is an ore of:
a) Tin
b) Zinc
c) Lead
d) Iron
Answer: b
47. Cassiterite is the ore mineral of:
a) Tungsten
b) Tin
c) Manganese
d) Chromium
Answer: b
48. Malachite is a copper mineral with:
a) Blue color
b) Green color
c) Brown color
d) White color
Answer: b
49. Azurite is chemically classified as a:
a) Oxide
b) Sulfide
c) Carbonate
d) Halide
Answer: c
50. Chromite is an ore of:
a) Copper
b) Chromium
c) Iron
d) Zinc
Answer: b