1. Mineral Identification
“Mineralogy”
How to observe and describe minerals!

2. PROPERTIES OF MINERALS (5)
FLIPBOOK!
(Name)
MINERALS!
Properties & Identification
COLOR
RANDOM STUFF
STREAK
CLEAVAGE / FRACTURE
CRYSTAL HABIT
LUSTER
HARDNESS
PROPERTIES OF MINERALS (5)
HOW NOT TO GET TRICKED

3. Properties All minerals have different properties.
By carefully observing these properties you can hopefully ID the mineral!

4. Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic:
1. Color
Results from a mineral’s chemical composition, impurities, and flaws or damage in the internal structure.
Easiest to see, least helpful in identification
COLOR

5. 2. Other Stuff… Smell Taste Magnetism
Reacts with addition of acid (HCl)
Specific gravity…

6. Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic:
Specific gravity
Ratio of a mineral’s mass to the mass of an equal volume of water.
How many times denser the mineral is than water.
RANDOM STUFF

7. Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic:
3. Streak
The color of its powder when rubbed along a streak-plate (unglazed porcelain).
Streak color indicates mineral’s chemistry better than the mineral color!
STREAK

8. 4. Cleavage / Fracture
Cleavage: tendency of a mineral to split/break in certain preferred directions when struck.
Fracture: how a mineral breaks other than along cleavage planes.
Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic:
CLEAVAGE / FRACTURE

9. 5. Crystal Habit CRYSTAL HABIT
Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic:
5. Crystal Habit
CRYSTAL HABIT

10. 6. Luster The way it reflects light Metallic or non-metallic
Mineral(s) we can identify by this characteristic:
The way it reflects light
Metallic or non-metallic
Non-metallic: vitreous (like shiny glass), brilliant, pearly, greasy, oily, dull, earthy…
LUSTER

11. 7. Moh’s Hardness Scale

12. 5 Mineral Characteristics
1. Occurs naturally

13. 2. Solid (definite shape and volume)

14. 3. Atoms are arranged in an orderly pattern
Fluorite

15. 4. Has a definite chemical composition
Quartz: SiO2
Pyrite: FeS2

16. Coal is not a “mineral” because it is made of dead plants and animals that experienced high temperature and pressure
5. Was never alive