Engineering Geology Questions and Answers – Physical Properties – 03

This set of Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Physical Properties – 03”.

1. Hardness of human nail varies between ___________
a) 0.5 to 1.5
b) 3 to 4
c) 1.5 to 2.5
d) 2.5 to 3.5
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Some common materials have been assigned hardness values according to Mohs scale and may prove useful in determination of hardness of an unknown mineral quickly. Hardness of human finger nail varies between 1.5 and 2.5.

2. Hardness is which kind of property?
a) Isotropic
b) Anisotropic
c) Homogenous
d) Non-homogenous
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Hardness is an anisotropic property; a mineral may show different values in different directions.

3. How does hardness vary with decomposition?
a) Increases with decomposition
b) Decreases with decomposition
c) Does not change
d) Either decreases or increases
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Hardness decreases on the decomposition of a mineral due to atmospheric attack on the surface. Hence, it must be checked on unweathered and unaltered surfaces.
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4. Hardness is a relative property.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Hardness is a relative property. If talc has H=1 and Quartz H=7, it does not indicate quartz is seven times harder than talc.

5. The tendency of a crystallized mineral to break along certain directions yielding more or less smooth, plane surfaces is ___________
a) Tenacity
b) Hardness
c) Cleavage
d) Fracture
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Cleavage is defined as the tendency of a crystallized mineral to break along certain directions yielding more or less smooth, plane surfaces. In other words, cleavage are the planes easiest fractures and are essentially indicative of directions of least cohesion.

6. Cleavage is described in terms of ___________
a) Number of direction
b) Degree of perfect splitting
c) Degree of cracking
d) Degree of perfect splitting and number of direction
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Cleavage is described both in terms of a number of directions in which it is observed on a mineral and also in terms of the degree of perfect splitting.

7. The type of cleavage due to the mineral can be split very easily is ___________
a) Eminent cleavage
b) Distinct cleavage
c) Basal cleavage
d) Cubic cleavage
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: In terms of perfection, the cleavage is described as eminent, perfect, good, distinct and indistinct in that order. In eminent cleavage, the mineral can be split very easily yielding extremely smooth surfaces, e.g., in mica.
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8. Mineral which shows parting is ___________
a) Orthoclase
b) Calcite
c) Mica
d) Corundum
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Parting is a property of minerals by virtue of which it can be split easily along certain secondary planes. Best example of parting can be seen in corundum where cleavage may be absent but parting may be very prominent.

9. Pick the wrong statement about the fracture.
a) It is the broken surface of a mineral along the direction of cleavage
b) It is the broken surface of a mineral in a direction other than that of cleavage
c) In some cases it becomes a characteristic property of a mineral
d) Even and uneven are examples of fractures
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The appearance of the broken surface of a mineral in a direction other than that of cleavage is generally expressed by the term fracture. In some cases, fracture becomes a characteristic property of a mineral.
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10. The term which means, rough woody fracture is ___________
a) Uneven
b) Conchoidal
c) Splintry
d) Hackly
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: When the mineral breaks with a rough woody fracture resulting in rough projection at the surface it is known as sprintly fracture. Example, Kyanite.

11. The behaviour of a mineral towards the forces that tend to destroy it is called ___________
a) Hardness
b) Resistance
c) Tenacity
d) Crystal degree
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The behaviour of a mineral towards the forces that tend to break, bend, cut or crush it is described by the term tenacity.

Sanfoundry Global Education & Learning Series – Engineering Geology.

To practice all areas of Engineering Geology, here is complete set of 1000+ Multiple Choice Questions and Answers.

If you find a mistake in question / option / answer, kindly take a screenshot and email to [email protected]

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Manish Bhojasia - Founder & CTO at Sanfoundry
Manish Bhojasia, a technology veteran with 20+ years @ Cisco & Wipro, is Founder and CTO at Sanfoundry. He lives in Bangalore, and focuses on development of Linux Kernel, SAN Technologies, Advanced C, Data Structures & Alogrithms. Stay connected with him at LinkedIn.

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