Question

Color White, Hardness Scratched by the mineral calcite, Characteristic Feels Greasy, Cleavage/fracture Shows definite flat surfaces. Based on these observations, the elements that make up this mineral's composition are:

a) Sulfur and lead
b) Sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen
c) Oxygen, silicon, hydrogen, and magnesium
d) Oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and iron

Answer 1

The mineral that matches these characteristics is talc, which is primarily composed of magnesium, oxygen, and silicon.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mineral that matches these characteristics is talc. Talc is commonly white in color and has a hardness of 1 on the Mohs scale, which means it can be scratched easily by calcite. Talc also feels greasy or soapy to the touch and has cleavage, which means it breaks along definite flat surfaces.

The composition of talc is primarily composed of magnesium, oxygen, and silicon. So, the correct answer is d) Oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and iron.