Question

which of the following accurately specifies a property that is useful in identifying quartz? choose one: a. color, because quartz can be many different colors b. fracture, because quartz does not have cleavage c. crystal habit, because quartz has a fibrous crystal habit d. hardness, because quartz is softer than most minerals on the mohs scale

Answer 1

The most useful property for identifying quartz is fracture, as quartz does not have cleavage and can break with a conchoidal fracture. (option b)

Step-by-step explanation:

The property that is useful in identifying quartz from the options provided is its fracture, because quartz does not have cleavage. (option b) Quartz tends to break with a conchoidal fracture, meaning it breaks along surfaces that are curved or shell-like. The other options provided are not as reliable for identification: color is not diagnostic because quartz can come in many different colors, its crystal habit is not exclusively fibrous, and quartz is actually hard, at a 7 on the Mohs scale, which means it is harder than most minerals and not softer.