1. Mineral Identification
Chapter 5
Mineral Identification

2. Physical Properties Properties that can be measured.
Ex) color, texture, shape, density

3. Physical Properties of a Mineral
Hardness
A measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched
Soft mineral: Talc
Hard mineral: Diamond

4. Moh’s Scale of Hardness

5. Luster The way a mineral reflects light
Can be metallic or non-metallic

6. Streak The color of a mineral in powdered form
The mineral is rubbed across an unglazed porcelain tile (streak plate)
Only works for minerals that are softer than the streak plate

7. Cleavage
Minerals that break along smooth flat surfaces

8. Fracture
Minerals that break along uneven, rough or jagged edges

9. Color
Good starting indicator but not good when used by itself

10. Other Properties Some minerals have special properties Magnetite-
attracted to magnets
Calcite-
produces a double image
fizzes when HCl is applied

11. Other Properties Fluorescence Phosphorescence
Glow when viewed under ultraviolet light
Examples: fluorite, calcite
Phosphorescence
Will continue to glow even after the ultraviolet light is removed
Examples: sphalerite, Willemite

12. Other Properties Radiation
Give off subatomic particles that can be detected by a Geiger counter
Exposure is dangerous to living organisms
Examples: carnotite, uraninite