MINERALS Physical Properties

TALC

TALC Color – white, sea green, or gray Luster – pearly Hardness – 1 Streak – white to pale gray Cleavage – yes Fracture – uneven Uses – paint, baby powder, paper, rubber, cosmetics

GYPSUM

GYPSUM Color – white, gray, clear, yellow, red, brown Luster – glassy, pearly Hardness – 2 Streak – white Cleavage – yes Fracture – fibrous or thin Uses – wallboard, plaster, cement, plaster of Paris

CALCITE

CALCITE Color – white, gray, clear, yellow, red, brown, green, blue, or orange Luster – glassy Hardness – 3 Streak – white Cleavage – yes Fracture – conchoidal (rounded) Uses – cement, medication, paint, soil treatment, concrete

FLUORITE

FLUORITE Color – purple, clear, yellow, green, red, blue, pink, black Luster – glassy Hardness – 4 Streak – white Cleavage – yes Fracture – rounded to uneven Uses – in drinking water, ornamental, stone

APATITE

APATITE Color – green, brown, blue, yellow, violet, clear Luster – glassy Hardness – 5 Streak – white Cleavage – no Fracture – rounded Uses – fertilizer, gemstone, part of teeth and bones

ORTHOCLASE ORTHOCLASE (FELDSPAR)

ORTHOCLASE (FELDSPAR) Color – white, reddish, pink, yellow Luster – glassy Hardness – 6 Streak – white Cleavage – yes Fracture – uneven Uses – glass, ceramics, gemstone

QUARTZ QUARTZ (POINTS ON ROCK BASE)

Color – clear, white, green, brown, black, yellow, purple, gray, red, pink Luster – glassy Hardness – 7 Streak – white Cleavage – no Fracture – conchoidal (rounded) Uses – glass making, optical, electronics

TOPAZ

TOPAZ Color – green, yellow, amber, clear, white, blue, pink Luster – glassy Hardness – 8 Streak – colorless, harder than streak plate Cleavage – yes Fracture – uneven Uses – gemstone

CORUNDUM

CORUNDUM CORUNDUM (UNCUT SAPPHIRES) Color – gray, white, brown, red, green, yellow, blue Luster – glassy Hardness – 9 Streak – colorless, harder than streak plate Cleavage – no Fracture – conchoidal to uneven Uses – abrasive, polishing, gemstone, sandpaper

DIAMOND

DIAMOND DIAMOND (CUT) Color – clear, green, yellow, red, blue, brown, orange, black Luster – brilliant Hardness – 10 Streak – colorless, harder than streak plate Cleavage – yes Fracture – conchoidal Uses – gemstone, abrasive

Pearly