Mineral Properties

Have you ever heard of fools gold? It looks like gold, but it is another
mineral. Many people have been fooled by it. Unfortunately, it is worth far
less than gold.

Many minerals have “look-alikes.” That is why scientists have come up with
different properties and tests to identify minerals. Some properties are more
reliable than others when identifying minerals. The properties of minerals are:

Color: Most minerals cannot be identified by color alone. Many minerals, such as gold and pyrite,
have the same color. Other minerals, such as quartz, have many different colors.

Streak: When you rub a mineral on a piece of tile, it may leave a streak of powder. Streak is the color
of the powder left by the mineral. The color of a mineral’s streak is very important. A mineral may
have different colors, but it always leaves the same color streak. For example, hematite can be silver or
red, but it will always leave a red-brown streak.

Luster: The way a mineral reflects light is called its luster. Luster can be metallic or nonmetallic.
Minerals with metallic luster shine like polished metals. Those with nonmetallic luster have no
metallic shine.

Hardness: The hardness of a mineral is its resistance to being scratched. To find out how hard a
mineral is, we test it against other minerals of known hardness. Minerals are often compared to the
hardness of glass which is 5.5. If a mineral scratches glass, it has a hardness greater than 5.5. If it does
not scratch glass, it has a hardness less than 5.5.

Cleavage and Fracture: The way a mineral breaks can also be used to identify the mineral. Some
minerals split along smooth, flat surfaces. These minerals are said to have cleavage. Other minerals
break into pieces with uneven (jagged) surfaces. These minerals are said to have fracture.

Cleavage

Fracture

Special Properties: Some minerals have special properties that can be used to identify them. For
example, calcite will bubble when a drop of hydrochloric acid is placed on it. The mineral halite tastes
salty, magnetite is magnetic, and talc feels slippery.

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QUESTIONS FOR MINERAL PROPERTIES:

1. Why is it not possible to identify minerals using color alone?

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Because the same mineral could exist in different colors at different locations
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2. Why is streak a good property to use when identifying a mineral?

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Because no matter what the color of the same mineral is,
it will always have the same streak color and texture.
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3. How will a mineral with a metallic luster look different from a mineral with non-metallic luster?
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Metallic minerals will shine like gold and silver
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while non-metallic will not shine

4. What is a mineral’s “hardness?”

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the ability of a mineral to
resist being scratched
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5. How would you determine the hardness of a mineral by using a piece of glass?
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If it can scratch glass—>its hardness is more than 5.5
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if it cannot scratch glass—> hardness is less than 5.5

6. What is the difference between a mineral that has cleavage and one that has fracture?
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cleavage—>mineral is broken or cut down into sheets like slices of cake
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fracture—> mineral is broken down into smaller pieces
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 Properties of Common Minerals Reading (ESRT Pg. 16)

Mineralogists have identified over 3,000 minerals, but only 100 minerals are common and only
about ten elements make up most minerals. So, how do we identify minerals? By testing their physical
and chemical properties. These tests might include the mineral’s appearance, the crystal shape, luster,
hardness, streak, acid test, their form of breakage – cleavage or fracture, and at times how the mineral
feels or smells. These properties and others, along with the mineral composition (what it is made up
of) can be found in the Properties of Common Minerals Chart in the Earth Science Reference Tables.

THE CHART: MATCH THE NUMBERS BELOW WITH THE NUMBERS ON THE NEXT PAGE

1. The twenty-one minerals in the chart are classified first by their luster – the way it reflects light.
This classification, metallic or nonmetallic, is given on the far left of this chart. (See #1 on the
chart)

2. The next identifying property is hardness, based on a scale of 1 to 10. (See #2 on the chart)

3. Following this is whether the mineral shows cleavage or fracture. If the mineral shows at least one
smooth face (side) it has cleavage. (See #3 on the chart)

4. Common color is also given, but we need to be careful since many minerals show more than one
color due to impurities within the mineral. (See #4 on the chart)

5. The Distinguishing Characteristics column gives additional information about the mineral. Look
in this column for unusual properties. (See #5 on the chart)

6. The Uses(s) column is how man has found a use for a particular mineral. (See #6 on the chart)

7. a.) The Composition column shows the element or chemical formula for the mineral. (See #7a on
the chart) b.) Use the bottom of this chart to identify any chemical symbols you need help with.
(See #7b on the chart)

8. In the Mineral Name column locate Potassium Feldspar, it also goes by the name orthoclase. Two
other minerals are shown to be identified by other names. (See #8 on the chart)

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 2 3 4
1 7a 8
5 6

7b

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 Properties of Common Minerals Question Sheet

streak

4
3

3
3

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 3 1

Hardness
Dominant Form of breakage

Laser Cutters

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