1. Physical Properties Of Minerals
16 NOV 2015

2. Starter:
Students collected mineral samples on a field trip and tested them for different properties. The students used the Moh’s Hardness scale to determine the identity of the mineral. They determined that the mineral had a hardness of 4.5. Which of the following statements is true about the mineral?
Mineral
 Hardness
Diamond 10
Corundum 9
Topaz 8
Quartz 7
Feldspar 6
Apatite 5
Fluorite 4
Copper Penny
3.5
Calcite 3
Fingernail
2.5
Gypsum 2
Talc 1
4.5
A the mineral can scratch talc and be scratched by calcite
B the mineral is harder than topaz but not harder than apatite
C the mineral can scratch a copper penny and be scratched by feldspar.
D the mineral is harder than fluorite and feldspar.

3. Practice Streak Cleavage Luster Hardness Color Fracture Properties
of Minerals
Streak
Cleavage
Fracture
Luster
Hardness
Color

4. Color Some have only one color- ex: gold
Others have a variety of colors-
ex: Calcite can be pink, blue, orange, red, brown, white, clear

5. Streak Color of crushed mineral powder
A mineral always has same color streak
ex: Calcite can be pink, blue, orange but the streak is always white.

6. Cleavage Minerals are made of crystals
When broken, the crystal has a particular shape

7. Fracture The way mineral is broken down
Smooth, irregular, jagged, splintery

8. Luster
Way surface reflects light
Metallic, silky, pearly, dull

9. Hardness Resistance to being scratched Measure Mohs’ hardness scale
1 is the softest-10 is the hardest

10. Application/ connection :

11. Exit