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. Submetallic: has the look of
metal that has dulled by
weathering or erosion
Adamantine: has
hard, sparkly look
like a diamond
Resinous: has the
look of amber, not
quite glassy
Metallic – has the
look of polished
metal
Greasy/oily: looks
Like it has been
Coated with oil
Silky: has fine parallel
lines like silk
Glassy/Vitreous: has
the look of glass
Pearly: has an iridescent
look of mother-of-pearl –
often on its cleavage face
Dull: has a
Plain looking
Dull surface
Earthy: looks like
Soil or clay

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

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

6. 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)

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

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

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

11. 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)