Question

The minerals talc, muscovite mica, quartz, and olivine are similar because they:

a) Have the same hardness
b) Are the same color
c) Contain silicon and oxygen
d) Break along cleavage planes

Answer 1

Talc, muscovite mica, quartz, and olivine are similar because they contain silicon and oxygen, which are characteristic of silicate minerals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The minerals talc, muscovite mica, quartz, and olivine are similar because they contain silicon and oxygen. This composition is characteristic of the silicate minerals, which make up approximately 90% of the Earth's crust.

These minerals all have silicate tetrahedra as their basic unit, with a silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms. However, they differ in other aspects such as hardness, color, and cleavage planes.

For example, quartz typically lacks cleavage and breaks along irregular, glassy grains, while muscovite mica has perfect cleavage in one direction, allowing it to form layers.