Question

follow this chart. what mineral is soft, has a white streak, and cleavage in 1 direction?
options: muscovite, calcite, gypsum, garnet

Explanation:

Step1: Identify the "Soft" path

Start with the "Test for hardness" branch. We need the "Soft" mineral, so follow the "Soft" arrow.

Step2: Test for streak (None/White)

From "Soft", go to "Test for streak" and we need "None/White" (since the mineral has white streak).

Step3: Test for cleavage (1 direction)

From "None/White" streak, go to "Test for cleavage". We need cleavage in 1 direction. Looking at the chart, under the "Soft" -> "None/White" streak path, the mineral with "cleavage 1 direction" (and also, checking the options, Gypsum has cleavage in 1 direction, Muscovite cleaves into flakes (which is also 1 - direction cleavage? Wait, no: Wait, the chart: under Soft, Test for streak (None/White), then Test for cleavage. The options: Muscovite: "cleaves into flakes" (which is 1 direction cleavage? Wait, no, let's re - check the chart. The "Soft" path: after streak (None/White), Test for cleavage. The minerals: Gypsum has "cleavage 1 direction", Muscovite: "cleaves into flakes" (but let's check the options. Wait, the question is soft, white streak, cleavage in 1 direction. Let's re - trace:

1. Hardness: Soft.
2. Streak: White (so None/White).
3. Cleavage: 1 direction.

Looking at the chart, under the "Soft" -> "Test for streak" (None/White) -> "Test for cleavage" path, Gypsum is listed with "cleavage 1 direction", and Muscovite is "cleaves into flakes" (but maybe that's also 1 direction? Wait, no, let's check the options. The options are Muscovite, Calcite, Gypsum, Garnet. Garnet is hard (so eliminate). Calcite has rhombohedral cleavage (3 directions? No, calcite has 3 directions of cleavage). So Calcite is out. Muscovite: cleaves into flakes (which is a type of 1 - direction cleavage, but wait, the chart: under the Soft, streak None/White, test for cleavage: one branch is "cleavage 1 direction" leading to Gypsum? Wait, no, let's look at the chart again. Wait, the chart:

Under Soft:

- Test for streak:

- If streak is not None/White (but we need white, so None/White).

Then Test for cleavage:

- The options: Gypsum is listed with "cleavage 1 direction", Muscovite: "cleaves into flakes" (maybe that's a different way, but let's check the properties. Wait, Gypsum: soft (hardness ~2), white streak, cleavage in 1 direction. Muscovite: also soft, white streak, cleaves into flakes (1 - direction cleavage). But wait, the chart: let's re - read the chart labels. The "Soft" path:

After "Test for streak" (None/White), "Test for cleavage":

- One path: "cleavage 1 direction" -> Gypsum (colorless, cleavage 1 direction).

- Another path: "cleaves into flakes" -> Muscovite (colorless).

But the question says "cleavage in 1 * direction" (probably 1 direction). Wait, maybe I made a mistake. Wait, let's re - trace:

- Soft (hardness <5.5, say).

- Streak: white.

- Cleavage: 1 direction.

Gypsum: hardness 2, streak white, cleavage in 1 direction (perfect cleavage in one direction). Muscovite: hardness ~2.5, streak white, cleaves into flakes (which is a single direction of cleavage). But let's check the chart again. The chart's "Soft" path:

From "Soft", "Test for streak" (None/White) leads to "Test for cleavage". The minerals:

- Gypsum: "cleavage 1 direction"

- Muscovite: "cleaves into flakes"

But the options: let's check the answer options. The correct mineral should be Gypsum? Wait, no, wait the chart: under the "Soft" -> "Test for streak" (None/White) -> "Test for cleavage" -> "cleavage 1 direction" is Gypsum. Muscovite is "cleaves into flakes" (which is a type of 1 - direction cleavage, but maybe the chart differentiates. Wait, the question is "cleavage in 1 direction". Let's check the properties:

- Gypsum: soft, white streak, cleavage in 1 direction.

- Muscovite: soft, white streak, cleaves into flakes (1 - direction cleavage, but maybe the chart considers "cleaves into flakes" as a separate category, but the question is about cleavage in 1 direction. Wait, maybe I messed up. Wait, let's re - do the flowchart:

1. Hardness: Soft (so not Hard, so follow Soft arrow).

2. Test for streak: the mineral has white streak, so "None/White" (since white streak is in the None/White category here).

3. Test for cleavage: we need cleavage in 1 direction. Looking at the chart, under the "Soft" -> "None/White" streak path, the mineral with "cleavage 1 direction" is Gypsum. Muscovite is "cleaves into flakes" (which is a type of 1 - direction cleavage, but maybe the chart labels it differently). But among the options, Gypsum is the one with cleavage in 1 direction (and soft, white streak). Garnet is hard (eliminate). Calcite has rhombohedral cleavage (3 directions, so eliminate). So the correct mineral is Gypsum? Wait, no, wait Muscovite: let's check the chart again. The chart says for Muscovite: "cleaves into flakes" (which is a form of 1 - direction cleavage), but the question is about "cleavage in 1 direction". Wait, maybe the answer is Muscovite? No, wait, let's re - trace the chart step by step:

- Start at "Test for hardness":

- If Hard: go to Hard path.

- If Soft: go to Soft path. We need Soft.

- From Soft: "Test for streak":

- If streak is not None/White: (not our case).

- If streak is None/White: proceed. Our mineral has white streak, so None/White.

- From None/White streak: "Test for cleavage":

- The two branches:

- One branch: "cleavage 1 direction" -> Gypsum (colorless, cleavage 1 direction).

- Another branch: "cleaves into flakes" -> Muscovite (colorless).

But the question is "cleavage in 1 direction". Gypsum has "cleavage 1 direction" as per the chart. Muscovite "cleaves into flakes" (which is a type of 1 - direction cleavage, but maybe the chart considers it a different description). But let's check the properties:

- Gypsum: hardness ~2 (soft), streak white, cleavage in 1 direction (perfect cleavage along one plane).

- Muscovite: hardness ~2.5 (soft), streak white, cleaves into flakes (which is a single direction of cleavage, as it's a mica, which has perfect cleavage in one direction).

Wait, maybe I made a mistake. Let's check the options again. The options are Muscovite, Calcite, Gypsum, Garnet.

Garnet: hard (so out).

Calcite: has rhombohedral cleavage (3 directions), so out.

Now between Muscovite and Gypsum.

The chart: under the Soft, streak None/White, test for cleavage:

- Gypsum: "cleavage 1 direction"

- Muscovite: "cleaves into flakes"

The question says "cleavage in 1 * direction" (maybe a typo for 1 direction). So which one? Let's check the streak and hardness again. Both are soft, white streak. Now, cleavage: Gypsum has cleavage in 1 direction (flat sheets), Muscovite also has cleavage in 1 direction (flakes). But maybe the chart's labeling: Gypsum is listed with "cleavage 1 direction", so we'll go with Gypsum? Wait, no, wait the original chart: let's look at the text again. The user's chart:

Under the "Soft" path:

After "Test for streak" (None/White), "Test for cleavage":

- One line: "cleavage 1 direction" -> Gypsum (colorless)

- Another line: "cleaves into flakes" -> Muscovite (colorless)

So the mineral with "cleavage in 1 direction" (as per the chart's label "cleavage 1 direction") is Gypsum.

Step4: Eliminate other options

- Garnet: Hard (so eliminated, since we need soft).

- Calcite: Has rhombohedral cleavage (not 1 direction, so eliminated).

- Muscovite: Cleaves into flakes (the chart labels it as "cleaves into flakes" rather than "cleavage 1 direction" in the same branch, so Gypsum is the one with "cleavage 1 direction" as per the chart's labeling).

Answer:

Gypsum