1. Properties of Minerals

2. Luster Appearance of a fresh mineral surface in reflected light 1. Metallic Luster 2. Vitreous Luster- glassy luster 3. Resinous Luster 4. Pearly Luster 5. Silky luster 1.Pyrite 2.Quartz 3.Orpiment 4.Muscovite 5.Satin Spar Gypsum

3. Color The wavelength of light that is reflected off of a freshly broken surface of a mineral. Clear Red Orange Yellow Blue Green Indigo Violet Brown Black White

4. Hardness A mineral’s resistance to abrasion (being scraped) – Mohs scale of hardness

5. Cleavage The tendency of minerals to break along definite planes of weakness that exist in the internal structure of the mineral Gypsum

6. Fracture How a mineral breaks Conchoidal- Fracture- surface is smooth and has concentric ridges Fibrous- Breaks into long filaments ObsidianAsbestos

7. Streak The color of the powder of a mineral after is has been scraped across a hardened ceramic surface

8. Specific Gravity Ratio of a minerals weight to the weight of an equivalent volume of water. Higher Specific Gravity= Higher Density

9. Diaphaneity The ability of a thin slice of mineral to transmit light Transparent- allows most light to pass through undistorted Translucent- light passes through but is bent and you cannot resolve images Opaque- no light passes through even the thinnest slice CalciteMuscoviteCinnabar

10. Crystal Form The assemblage of faces that reflect the internal molecular structure of the mineral

11. Magnetism Is the mineral attracted to a magnet? Magnetite is the most common mineral that will do this. Hematite

12. Double Refraction Images appear doubled when viewed through the mineral specimen- Calcite

13. Taste Most minerals will not have this property. Never taste a sample unless directed to do so. Halite

14. Odor A characteristic smell from a mineral- Kaolinite smells musty or dank when moistened.

15. Feel Surface texture of a mineral. Greasy, slick, smooth, rough, soapy, veined Graphite- Greasy

16. Chemical Reaction HCl acid on Calcite