(How can we identify which (How can we identify which mineral is which?)mineral is which?)

8 Ways to Identify 8 Ways to Identify MineralsMinerals

1. Color1. Color

2. Luster2. Luster• the way the the way the

mineral’s surface mineral’s surface reflects light. reflects light.

• metallic, earthy, metallic, earthy,

waxy, greasy, glassywaxy, greasy, glassy

LusterLuster

• Resinous lusterResinous luster

Discuss…Discuss…

• How is How is lusterluster different from different from colorcolor??

3. Streak-- the color of the 3. Streak-- the color of the powderpowder

Streak – the color of the powderStreak – the color of the powder

-Cleavage-Cleavage -breakage occurs along smooth,flat surfaces

4. The way 4. The way the mineral the mineral breaksbreaks

Examples of CleavageExamples of Cleavage

--FractureFracture• Breakage Breakage

occurs in occurs in curved or curved or irregular irregular shapesshapes

5. Hardness5. Hardness• resistance to resistance to

scratchingscratching

• Mohs Hardness Mohs Hardness Scale 1-10Scale 1-10

Diamond 1010

(Hardest)

Talc-- 11 ( (SOFTEST)

6. Density6. Density• Minerals have Minerals have

different densitiesdifferent densities

• How much MASS How much MASS something has in something has in relation to its sizerelation to its size

Pyrite= 5.01g/cm3

7. Crystal 7. Crystal SystemsSystems• Minerals can Minerals can

form form different different shaped shaped crystals with crystals with varying varying numbers of numbers of sides.sides.

8. Special Properties8. Special Properties• Some properties only Some properties only

apply to a few types of apply to a few types of mineralsminerals

• Fluorescence• Magnetism• Chemical Reactions• Taste• Optical Properties• Radioactivity

example of optical propertiesexample of optical properties

Calcite

Quartz