1. Color Some minerals have their own color.
Others come in a variety of colors.

2. Luster Luster describes the way a mineral reflects light from
its surface

3. Adamantine: has hard, sparkly look like a diamond
Metallic – has the look of polished metal
Glassy: has the look of glass
Greasy: looks like it has been coated with oil
Silky: has fine parallel lines like silk
Dull: has a plain looking dull surface

4. Hardness
The ability of a mineral
to resist being scratched

5. Hardness Scale: Can you scratch it with your fingernail?
If yes, then it is soft.
If no, then go to the next question.
Can you scratch it with a nail?
If yes, then it is medium.
If no, then it is hard.

6. streak The color of the powder scraped off when it is rubbed
against a hard, rough surface

7. Density The amount of matter in a given space. Denser minerals
feel heavier
How to find it? Divide the mass
(triple beam balance) by the
volume (graduated cylinder)

8. Crystal Shape There are 6 different shapes of crystals from
the way the atoms or
molecules come
together as the
mineral is forming

9. Cleavage: breaks along smooth,
definite surfaces
Fracture: breaks along curved,
or rough and jagged surfaces
without a definite shape

10. Special Properties Some minerals are magnetic.
Some glow under ultraviolet
light.
Some have taste.
Some smell

12. Density
Use the triple balance beam to find the mass of the mineral sample. Record it.
Fill the graduated cylinder to 50 mL
Place the mineral sample into the graduated cylinder. Record the level of water with the mineral sample in it
Find the volume of water displaced by the mineral. To do this, subtract 50 mL from the volume of water with the sample in it. Record your answer.
To find the density, divide the mass (step 1) by the volume of water displaced (step 4)