1. Minerals
Physical Properties

2. talc
U.S. Government. (Photographer). (2005). Talc block. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

3. 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
U.S. Government. (Photographer). (2005). Talc block. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

4. Gypsum
Attribution: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0. Image retrieved from:

5. 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
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Gypsum-mz290b. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

6. calcite
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Calcite [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

7. 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
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Calcite [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

8. Fluorite
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Fluorite-flu34c. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

9. 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
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Fluorite-flu34c. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

10. Apatite
Nolan, T. B. (Photographer). (n.d.). Apatite. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from Nolan, T.B. 21

11. 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
Nolan, T. B. (Photographer). (n.d.). Apatite. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from Nolan, T.B. 21

12. Orthoclase (Feldspar)
Dyet, D. (Photographer). (2007). Feldspar [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

13. Orthoclase (Feldspar)
Color – white, reddish, pink, yellow
Luster – glassy
Hardness – 6
Streak – white
Cleavage – yes
Fracture – uneven
Uses – glass, ceramics, gemstone
Dyet, D. (Photographer). (2007). Feldspar [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

14. Quartz (Points on rock base)
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Quartz [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

15. 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
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Quartz [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

16. topaz
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Topaz-rom16c. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

17. 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
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Topaz-rom16c. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

18. corundum
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Corundum-cu09c. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

19. 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
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Corundum-cu09c. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

20. Diamond
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Diamond-diad11c. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from

21. 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
Lavinsky, R. (Photographer). (2010). Diamond-diad11c. [Print Photo]. Retrieved from