Mineral ID Definition Naturally occurring Solid Inorganic Crystalline

Mineral ID

Definition Naturally occurring Solid Inorganic Crystalline form Definite chemical composition

Mineral Properties Luster Hardness Streak Color Crystal Cleavage/Fracture Other

Luster - Metallic

Luster - Nonmetallic

Hardness Test Scratch a mineral with either another mineral or field test materials. The harder mineral will leave a mark or cut into the softer mineral. Field Test • Try to scratch with Fingernail - if so, 2. 5 if not, • Try to scratch with Copper Penny – if so, 3 if not, • Try to scratch with Steel Nail – if so, 5 if not, • Try to scratch with Glass Plate – if so, 5. 5 if not, • Try to scratch with Streak Plate – if so, 7. 5 if not, > 7. 5

Very soft minerals

Very hard minerals

Streak Rub the mineral across the porcelain plate. The color left behind is the streak. Nonmetallic minerals and those that have a hardness greater than the streak plate will leave either white or no streak.

Cleavage vs. Fracture

Fracture

Crystal vs Fracture - Quartz

Crystal vs Cleavage - Galena

Twinning - Staurolite Back

Color - Quartz

Color - Calcite

Other Crystal (galena) (pyrite) (fluorite) (quartz) Twinning(staurolite) Fluorescense (fluorite) HCl Acid Reaction (calcite) Heft (galena) Magnetism (magnetite) Plasticity (mica) Smell (sulfur) Sound: actually a reaction to heat expansion (sulfur) Taste (halite) Touch (talc) (graphite) (kaolonite)

Crystal Shape - Quartz

Crystal Shape - Pyrite

Crystal Shape - Fluorite

Crystal Shape - Wavellite

Fluorescent Mineral Gallery

HCl reaction

Heft

Magnetism

Plasticity

Smell

Sound - Sulfur

Touch – feel dusty, slick and soapy

Diamond

Earth Science Lab ID of an Unknown Mineral ID Key online

Rockhounding Arkansas The Science Spot Kid Zone

Minerals Make Up Rocks

Rocks are made from minerals!