1. Identifying Minerals
Chapter 3 Section 2

2. Objectives
1. Classify minerals using common mineral-identification techniques.
2. Explain special properties of minerals.

3. Mineral Identification
Scientists can use _______________ of minerals to identify them.
Color
Luster
Streak
Cleavage
Fracture
Hardness
Density
physical properties

4. Color
Color – can sometimes be used to identify minerals but is not always helpful.
Some minerals have many different varieties of color. Example: Quartz (rose, clear, smoky)
***Color is ______________ a reliable indicator of a minerals identity.
not usually

5. Luster The way a surface reflects light.
A minerals luster can be classified as:
Metallic
Submetallic
Nonmetallic
Page 64 in your text book.

6. Streak The color of a mineral in powdered form. more reliable
____________________
To find out the streak of a mineral it is rubbed against a piece of unglazed porcelain called a streak plate.
The streak is not always the color of the mineral.
***Streak is _________________ than color for identification of minerals.
powdered form.
more reliable

7. Cleavage and Fracture along flat surfaces curved or irregular surfaces
Cleavage – the tendency of some minerals to break ______________________.
Fracture – the tendency of some minerals to break unevenly along _____________________
____________
along flat surfaces
curved or irregular
surfaces

8. Hardness – Mohs Hardness Scale
German Scientist Friedrich __________ developed a hardness scale:
The lower the hardness number the _________ the mineral.
The higher the number the __________ the mineral.
softer
harder

9. If you have a mineral that is scratched by topaz and apatite, but scratches calcite, then what is the hardness of the mineral? ________
What could the mineral be? ___________
Four
Fluorite

11. SOL Sample Question C

12. Density specific gravity D= m/v can be used to identify minerals.
Usually expressed as a _________________.
Ratio of the density of the mineral to the density of water (which is 1).
A mineral with a specific gravity of 4 has a density that is 4 times greater than water.
specific gravity

13. Special Properties of Minerals