Mineral Identification “Mineralogy” How to observe and describe minerals!

PROPERTIES OF MINERALS (5) FLIPBOOK! (Name) MINERALS! Properties & Identification COLOR RANDOM STUFF STREAK CLEAVAGE / FRACTURE CRYSTAL HABIT LUSTER HARDNESS PROPERTIES OF MINERALS (5) HOW NOT TO GET TRICKED

Properties All minerals have different properties. By carefully observing these properties you can hopefully ID the mineral!

Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic: 1. Color Results from a mineral’s chemical composition, impurities, and flaws or damage in the internal structure. Easiest to see, least helpful in identification COLOR

2. Other Stuff… Smell Taste Magnetism Reacts with addition of acid (HCl) Specific gravity…

Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic: Specific gravity Ratio of a mineral’s mass to the mass of an equal volume of water. How many times denser the mineral is than water. RANDOM STUFF

Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic: 3. Streak The color of its powder when rubbed along a streak-plate (unglazed porcelain). Streak color indicates mineral’s chemistry better than the mineral color! STREAK

4. Cleavage / Fracture Cleavage: tendency of a mineral to split/break in certain preferred directions when struck. Fracture: how a mineral breaks other than along cleavage planes. Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic: CLEAVAGE / FRACTURE

5. Crystal Habit CRYSTAL HABIT Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic: 5. Crystal Habit CRYSTAL HABIT

6. Luster The way it reflects light Metallic or non-metallic Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic: The way it reflects light Metallic or non-metallic Non-metallic: vitreous (like shiny glass), brilliant, pearly, greasy, oily, dull, earthy… LUSTER

7. Moh’s Hardness Scale

5 Mineral Characteristics 1. Occurs naturally

2. Solid (definite shape and volume)

3. Atoms are arranged in an orderly pattern Fluorite

4. Has a definite chemical composition Quartz: SiO2 Pyrite: FeS2

Coal is not a “mineral” because it is made of dead plants and animals that experienced high temperature and pressure 5. Was never alive