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Uses
Identification
Definition
1. Naturally Occurring
2. Inorganic solid
3. Chemical Composition (i.e. NaCl, Au)
4. Physical Properties
5. Crystalline Structure (3‐D arrangement)
Property 1: Color
The least reliable property of minerals
Some minerals have more than one color, and many
minerals may have the same color
Clarity: transparent, translucent, opaque
Property 2: Crystal Form
Crystal geometry: cube, pyramid, tetrahedron, etc.
External property
Perfect form = RARE
Property 3: Luster
Describes light reflection from mineral surface
Metallic (M): silver, gold, copper, steel
Nonmetallic (NM): not metallic
Vitreous – glass
Waxy – candle
Pearly
Satiny
Earthy – dull, no reflection
Greasy – oily
Porcelaneous – translucent white
Property 4: Hardness
Mineralogist Friedrich Mohs
(1773‐1839)
Resistance to scratching
Hard: scratch glass (>5.5)
Soft: cannot scratch glass (<5.5)
Streak plate = 6.5
Property 5: Streak
Streak: color of a mineral after it
is ground to a fine powder
Use a streak plate
CAUTION: streak plate has
hardness = 6.5 (white powder)
If >6.5, crush with hammer
Property 6, 7: Cleavage/Fracture
Cleavage: minerals break (cleave) along surfaces
Weak chemical bonds
Cleavage direction: parallel surface of break
Fracture: break not along cleavage planes
Not flat, not parallel sets
Other Important Properties
Reaction to HCl (calcite, powdered dolomite)
Magnetism: magnetite