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Cobra Invitational - MI — Rocks and Minerals

Rocks and Minerals · Division B · Cobra Invitational - MI · 2026

115 questions · 110.5 points · 50 min· 12 questions from the original omitted

Original test source

STATION 1 — MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the best answer for the following questions.

Question 1

1 pt

Which mineral is the hardest on the Mohs scale?

Question 2

1 pt

What type of rock forms from the cooling of magma or lava?

Question 3

1 pt

Which of the following is a sedimentary rock?

Question 4

1 pt

Which process leads to the formation of metamorphic rock?

Question 6

1 pt

Which mineral will fizz when exposed to hydrochloric acid?

Question 7

1 pt

What property of minerals refers to the way light reflects off the surface?

Question 8

1 pt

Which mineral is magnetic?

Question 9

1 pt

Granite is classified as which type of rock?

Question 10

1 pt

Which sedimentary rock is primarily composed of compacted plant material?

Question 11

1 pt

Which of the following minerals is a silicate?

Question 12

1 pt

Pumice is best described as:

Question 13

1 pt

Which of the following is NOT a property used to identify minerals?

Question 14

1 pt

Which mineral is commonly used in drywall?

Question 15

1 pt

Schist and gneiss are examples of:

STATION 2

FigureFor questions 2-1–2-10

Specimen for Station 2 questions.

Question 2-1

1 pt

Name the above Specimen:

Question 2-2

1 pt

Is this a Rock or Mineral?

Question 2-3

1 pt

What is the chemical formula?

Question 2-4

1 pt

What is the Specimen's classification?

Question 2-5

1 pt

What is the Mohs hardness of this specimen?

Question 2-6

1 pt

What is the specific gravity of this specimen, and why is it so high?

Question 2-7

1 pt

What is the typical luster of the specimen?

Question 2-8

1 pt

In what geologic environment does the specimen form?

Question 2-9

1 pt

How does it form?

Question 2-10

1 pt

What are the primary uses?

STATION 3

FigureFor questions 3-1–3-10

Specimen for Station 3 questions.

Question 3-1

1 pt

What is the name of the above specimen?

Question 3-2

1 pt

What is the chemical formula?

Question 3-3

1 pt

What is malachite's mineral classification?

Question 3-4

1 pt

What is the Mohs hardness of this specimen?

Question 3-5

1 pt

What is the specific gravity?

Question 3-6

1 pt

What is the typical luster?

Question 3-7

1 pt

What color is the specimen and what causes it?

Question 3-8

1 pt

In what environment does it form?

Question 3-9

1 pt

How does the specimen form?

Question 3-10

1 pt

What are its common uses?

STATION 4 — Identify the following rocks or minerals based on the description

Question 4-1

1 pt

A black volcanic glass formed from rapidly cooled lava:

Question 4-2

1 pt

A metamorphic rock formed from shale that splits easily into thin sheets:

Question 4-3

1 pt

A mineral that fizzes with acid and is used in cement:

Question 4-4

1 pt

A soft mineral used in talcum powder:

Question 4-5

1 pt

A sedimentary rock formed from compacted plant material:

Question 4-6

1 pt

A coarse-grained igneous rock with visible crystals of quartz, feldspar, and mica:

Question 4-7

1 pt

A mineral that attracts a magnet:

Question 4-8

1 pt

A rock formed from compacted sand grains:

Question 4-9

1 pt

A foliated metamorphic rock with a banded appearance:

Question 4-10

1 pt

A mineral commonly used in table salt:

STATION 5 — Based on the following observations, name the rock or mineral

PassageFor questions 5-1–5-2

Observations Provided: ● Color: Purple to green ● Transparency: Transparent to translucent ● Luster: Vitreous ● Streak: White ● Cleavage: Octahedral ● Hardness: 4

Question 5-1

1 pt

Identify the above rock or mineral:

Question 5-2

1 pt

What Mineral Family does this belong to?

PassageFor questions 5-3–5-4

Observations Provided: ● Color: Yellow to orange ● Transparency: Transparent ● Luster: Vitreous ● Cleavage: None ● Hardness: 7 ● Scratch Test: Scratches glass

Question 5-3

1 pt

Identify the mineral.

Question 5-4

1 pt

What mineral family does it belong to?

PassageFor question 5-5

Observations Provided: ● Color: White to pale green ● Luster: Dull to pearly ● Streak: White ● Hardness: 1 ● Texture: Greasy/soapy feel

Question 5-5

1 pt

Identify the mineral.

PassageFor question 5-6

Observations Provided: ● Color: Dark green to black ● Texture: Coarse-grained ● Composition: Pyroxene and plagioclase ● Reaction with HCl: None ● Density: High

Question 5-6

1 pt

Identify the rock.

PassageFor question 5-7

Observations Provided: ● Texture: Medium to coarse-grained ● Structure: Alternating light and dark bands ● Hardness: High ● Foliation: Present

Question 5-7

1 pt

Identify the rock.

STATION 6 — Mohs Hardness Scale

Question 6-11

1 pt

Can be scratched by a fingernail?

Question 6-12

1 pt

Can be scratched by a knife or glass?

Question 6-13

1 pt

A natural element that has a hardness of 2.5 - 3

Question 6-14

1 pt

What can scratch Corundum?

Question 6-15

1 pt

Who developed the Mohs hardness scale? (first and last name)

Question 6-16

1 pt

Is the Mohs Scale linear?

STATION 7 — True/False

Question 7-1

1 pt

Obsidian is an extrusive igneous rock.

Question 7-2

1 pt

Talc is softer than calcite on the Mohs hardness scale.

Question 7-3

1 pt

Sandstone can form from cemented sand grains.

Question 7-4

1 pt

Metamorphic rocks can never contain fossils.

Question 7-5

1 pt

Halite is also known as rock salt.

Question 7-7

1 pt

Rocks are always made of only one mineral.

Question 7-8

1 pt

Pumice is a lightweight igneous rock with many air bubbles.

Question 7-9

1 pt

Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to break along flat surfaces.

Question 7-10

1 pt

Slate is formed from limestone under heat and pressure.

Question 7-11

1 pt

A mineral must be naturally occurring, inorganic, and have a crystalline structure.

Question 7-12

1 pt

Cleavage describes how a mineral breaks along flat, repeating planes.

Question 7-13

1 pt

Specific gravity compares a mineral's density to the density of water.

Question 7-14

1 pt

Silicates are the most abundant mineral group in Earth's crust.

Question 7-15

1 pt

Quartz is classified as a feldspar mineral.

Question 7-16

1 pt

Diamond and graphite are polymorphs of carbon.

Question 7-17

1 pt

Igneous rocks form from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

Question 7-18

1 pt

Sedimentary rocks often contain fossils.

Question 7-19

1 pt

The discontinuous branch of Bowen's Reaction Series includes feldspar minerals.

Question 7-20

1 pt

Quartz crystallizes at the highest temperature in Bowen's Reaction Series.

STATION 8

FigureFor questions 8-1–8-9

Specimen for Station 8 questions.

Question 8-1

1 pt

What is the name of the rock or mineral?

Question 8-2

1 pt

What is the chemical composition?

Question 8-3

1 pt

What is breccia's classification?

Question 8-4

1 pt

What is the specific gravity of this specimen?

Question 8-5

1 pt

What is its luster?

Question 8-6

1 pt

What key texture distinguishes this specimen from conglomerate?

Question 8-7

1 pt

In what environment does this form?

Question 8-8

1 pt

How does the specimen form?

Question 8-9

1 pt

What are the primary uses?

STATION 9 — Match the definition to the word.

PassageFor questions 9-1–9-20

WORD BANK Mineral Cleavage Hardness Polymorphis Luster Foliation Tenacity Crystal Habit Mohs Hardness Scale Silicate Metamorphic Rock Carbonate Specific Gravity Sulfide Igneous Rock Scratch Test Weathering Streak Sedimentary Rock Clastic

Question 9-1

1 pt

____ — A naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Question 9-2

1 pt

____ — The tendency of a mineral to break along flat, repeating planes of weakness.

Question 9-3

1 pt

____ — The color of a mineral in powdered form, produced by rubbing it on a streak plate.

Question 9-4

1 pt

____ — The way light reflects from a mineral's surface.

Question 9-5

1 pt

____ — A mineral's resistance to scratching.

Question 9-6

1 pt

____ — A relative scale from 1 to 10 used to compare the hardness of minerals.

Question 9-7

1 pt

____ — A method used to determine mineral hardness by observing which materials can scratch it.

Question 9-8

1 pt

____ — The ratio comparing a mineral's density to the density of water.

Question 9-9

1 pt

____ — A mineral's resistance to breaking, bending, or deforming.

Question 9-10

1 pt

____ — The typical external shape a crystal forms as it grows.

Question 9-11

1 pt

____ — When minerals have the same chemical formula but different crystal structures.

Question 9-12

0.5 pts

____ — A mineral group containing silicon and oxygen, making up most of Earth’s crust.

Question 9-13

0.5 pts

____ — A mineral group containing the carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻).

Question 9-14

0.5 pts

____ — A mineral group composed of sulfur bonded with a metal.

Question 9-15

0.5 pts

____ — Rock formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.

Question 9-16

0.5 pts

____ — Rock formed from the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of sediments.

Question 9-17

0.5 pts

____ — Rock altered by heat, pressure, or fluids without melting.

Question 9-18

0.5 pts

____ — A sedimentary rock texture made of fragments of preexisting rocks.

Question 9-19

0.5 pts

____ — A layered texture in metamorphic rocks caused by directed pressure.

Question 9-20

0.5 pts

____ — The breakdown of rocks at Earth’s surface through physical or chemical processes.

STATION 10 — Name that Rock or Mineral

PassageFor questions 10-1–10-10

Specimens for Station 10 — Name that Rock or Mineral.

Question 10-1

1 pt

Name the rock or mineral shown in specimen 1.

Question 10-2

1 pt

Name the rock or mineral shown in specimen 2.

Question 10-3

1 pt

Name the rock or mineral shown in specimen 3.

Question 10-4

1 pt

Name the rock or mineral shown in specimen 4.

Question 10-5

1 pt

Name the rock or mineral shown in specimen 5.

Question 10-6

1 pt

Name the rock or mineral shown in specimen 6.

Question 10-7

1 pt

Name the rock or mineral shown in specimen 7.

Question 10-8

1 pt

Name the rock or mineral shown in specimen 8.

Question 10-9

1 pt

Name the rock or mineral shown in specimen 9.

Question 10-10

1 pt

Name the rock or mineral shown in specimen 10.