Geologists May Choose to Lick a Mineral to Identify It

question 17

Multiple Choice

Geologists may choose to lick a mineral to identify it.What mineral is the geologist expecting with this test?

• A)a sulfide bearing rock which will taste like rotten eggs
• B)NaCl (halite)or KCl (sylvite)
• C)None,it clears the dust off the sample so he/she can see if more clearly.
• D)None,they are clearing the hydrochloric acid from the sample to rerun a test for calcite.

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Definitions:

Endowment Effect

A mental prejudice in which individuals attribute higher worth to items simply because they possess them.

Prospect Theory

A behavioral economic theory that describes how people make decisions between probabilistic alternatives that involve risk, where the outcomes are known.

Identical Item

A product or object that is exactly the same in every aspect as another, with no variations.

Status Quo Bias

The preference for the current state of affairs, where changes are resisted even when better options are available.