Question

“today you will use this chart to help you identify some common minerals,” instructed mr. grant, jimmy’s teacher. each group of students was given three minerals to identify. jimmys group noticed as they bent, rubbed, and rubbed again away that it fell apart into thin layers or sheets.
what mineral did the group look at first?
a. gypsum
b. mica
c. quartz
d. talc

chart content

mineral	gypsum	quartz	fluorite
color	white/gray	clear	clear/color
feel	soft	glassy	glassy
other	--	most common mineral	can be scratched or dented with nail/knife

Explanation:

Match the group's observations to the mineral table:

1. The mineral split into thin, flat layers (sheets) when scraped, which matches the "Can be broken or split into thin sheets" property of Mica.
2. Cross-check other properties: Mica has a nonmetallic luster, is light-colored, and has a glassy appearance, which aligns with the implied traits from the group's interaction with the sample.

Answer:

B. mica