Sometimes you need more information than just color and appearance to identify most minerals.

 Is measured by how easy it is to scratch.  Friedrich Mohs developed the Mohs scale of hardness  The scale lists the hardness of ten minerals with 1 being the softest and 10 the hardest.  Calcite or Quartz?

 Refers to the way light reflects from the surface of the mineral.  There are two types of luster, ◦ Metallic: looks like polished metal. ◦ Nonmetallic: does not look like polished metal.  Nonmetallic can be shiny or dull.

MetallicNonmetallic

 When a mineral is rubbed across a piece of unglazed porcelain tile a streak is left behind. This streak is the powdered mineral.  Red chalk on a chalk board makes red marks. White chalk makes white marks.  Not all minerals work this way. When some minerals are scratched along a ceramic streak plate, it creates a different color.

Minerals that break along smooth, flat surfaces have cleavage. Minerals that break with rough or jagged edges have fracture.

 Some minerals have unique properties Examples: Magnetite is attracted to magnets Lodestone will pick up iron filings Calcite fizzes when hydrochloric acid is put on it.