Which of the following statements about minerals is false

A. a mineral can only break in one way

Explanation:

Cleavage is the ability of crystals to break along preferred crystallographic directions with the formation of a glossy surface. In the characterization of minerals the cleavages are described as:

• perfect cleavage: crystal separates into perfect surface plates (eg micas)

• good cleavage: separation takes place in certain directions, often forming stepped surfaces (eg calcite, cyanite)

• distinct cleavage: when the formation of equal and uneven surfaces by breaking occurs (eg feldspars, hornblende)

• imperfect cleavage: cleavage surfaces are uneven (eg beryl)

• missing cleavage: no cleavage plan (eg quartz)

Minerals may have cleavage surfaces on:

a) 3 directions - eg calcite, galena

b) 2 directions - Ex .: feldspar

c) 1 direction - Ex .: micas, talc

d) absent - eg quartz, tourmaline