Physical Properties of Minerals

Physical properties of minerals are the characteristics that can be

observed or measured without changing the mineral’s chemical
composition. These properties are based on the physical arrangement of
atoms, the crystal structure, and the forces that hold the structure
together. They help identify and differentiate minerals and are easily
tested using common methods. Here are some key physical properties of
minerals:

Color
Mineral Color refers to the visual appearance of a mineral when it reflects
or absorbs certain wavelengths of visible light. It’s often the first property
noticed, but it can sometimes be unreliable for identification.

While color is the most obvious feature, many minerals display a wide
variety of colors due to impurities or weathering. This makes color alone
an unreliable identification tool in many cases. However, for some
minerals, the color is diagnostic and consistent.

Causes of Color in Minerals:

 Chemical Composition: The specific elements in a mineral can

give it distinct colors. For example, the green color of malachite is
due to its copper content.
 Impurities: Trace elements or impurities can change the color. For
instance, pure quartz is colorless, but with impurities, it can appear
pink (rose quartz), purple (amethyst), or smoky (smoky quartz).
 Crystal Defects: Structural defects in the crystal lattice can affect
how light interacts with the mineral, changing its color.
 Oxidation: Oxidation states of certain metals in a mineral can
dramatically affect the color. Hematite appears red or reddish-brown
due to the oxidation of iron.

Different colors of minerals found in nature.

Mineral color Examples:

 Malachite: Always green due to copper.

 Azurite: Deep blue due to copper.
 Sulfur: Yellow due to its sulfur content.
 Quartz: Colorless, but impurities can make it pink (rose quartz),
purple (amethyst), or smoky (smoky quartz).
Limitations: Many minerals come in multiple colors, and environmental
conditions or chemical impurities can alter the color, making it an
inconsistent property for identification on its own.

Transparency
Transparency refers to how much light passes through a mineral. It is a
measure of the mineral’s optical properties and how much light can be
transmitted through it.

Transparency is important for both identifying minerals and determining

their uses, particularly in the fields of optics and jewelry.

How to observe it: Transparency is observed by holding the mineral up

to a light source and examining how much light passes through and how
clear the view is through the mineral.

Mineral Types of Transparency: Transparent, Translucent and Opaque

Types of Transparency:

Transparent: Light passes through the mineral without significant

distortion, and objects can be seen clearly through it. Example: Quartz
and calcite can be transparent when in pure form.

Translucent: Light passes through the mineral, but objects cannot be

clearly distinguished. The mineral allows light through but scatters it,
making objects appear blurry. Example: Milky quartz, opal, and gypsum
are examples of translucent minerals.

Opaque: No light passes through the mineral; it is completely non-

transparent. Example: Galena, hematite, and pyrite are opaque minerals.

Streak
Mineral Streak refers to the color of a mineral in its powdered form, which
is obtained by rubbing the mineral on an unglazed porcelain streak plate.

Streak is often more reliable than the color of the mineral itself because
the powdered form is less affected by impurities and structural defects.
This property is particularly useful for identifying minerals that exhibit
metallic luster, as their streak color can be very different from their
surface color.

How to observe it: The streak test involves rubbing the mineral across a
streak plate (usually unglazed porcelain) to see the color of the powder
 left behind. It’s important to note that only minerals softer than the
streak plate (about 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale) will leave a streak.

Mineral streak tests showing the color of the mineral powder

Streak Colors:

 Metallic Minerals: Generally have a dark streak (black, brown,

red).
 Non-metallic Minerals: Usually have a light or colorless streak.

Examples of Mineral Streaks:

 Hematite: Often has a metallic gray color but leaves a reddish-

brown streak.
 Pyrite: Known as "fool's gold" for its gold-like color, it leaves a
blackish-green streak.
 Galena: Silvery-gray in color, but its streak is black.
 Quartz: Being harder than the streak plate, it does not leave a
streak.

Importance: Since streak color is more consistent than the surface color
of a mineral, it is a crucial identification tool, particularly for minerals with
metallic luster or for those whose surface color varies due to weathering
or impurities.

Luster
Mineral Luster refers to the way light interacts with the surface of a
mineral. It describes the appearance or quality of light reflected from the
mineral’s surface, and it can be a good indicator of a mineral's identity.

How to observe it: The luster of a mineral is assessed by observing how

it reflects light. It can be observed under natural light or a bright artificial
light source.

Types of mineral Luster: metallic and non-metallic. like vitreous, adamantine, resinous, pearly, greasy, silky, and earthy.

Types of Luster:

Metallic Luster: Reflects light like metal. These minerals are usually
opaque and shiny.

Non-metallic Luster: Minerals that do not appear metallic. This

category includes several subtypes:

 Vitreous (Glassy): Reflects light like glass. Example: Quartz.

  Pearly: Has a pearl-like sheen. Example: Talc, muscovite.
 Resinous: Looks like resin or amber. Example: Sphalerite.
 Silky: Has a sheen similar to silk. Example: Fibrous minerals like
asbestos and gypsum.
 Greasy: Appears as though coated with oil. Example: Graphite,
some forms of quartz.
 Dull (Earthy): Lacks shine, looks like soil or clay. Example:
Kaolinite.
 Adamantine: Exhibits a brilliant, diamond-like shine. Example:
Diamond.
 Waxy: Appears to have a waxy surface. Example: Opal.

Hardness
Hardness is the measure of a mineral’s resistance to being scratched. It
reflects the strength of the atomic bonds within the mineral structure and
is one of the most commonly tested physical properties of minerals.

Hardness is a critical diagnostic tool for mineral identification. It is

relatively easy to test in the field and in laboratories and provides
valuable information about the mineral's durability and potential uses.

How to Measure Hardness: Hardness is most commonly measured

using Mohs Hardness Scale, developed by Friedrich Mohs in 1812. This
scale ranks minerals on a scale from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest) by
comparing a mineral's ability to scratch another material or be scratched
by it. The hardness of unknown minerals can be estimated by scratching
them with known substances.

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Mohs Hardness Scale is a relative measure of the scratch resistance of minerals. It ranges from 1 (softest) to 10
(hardest).

Mohs Hardness Scale:

Talc – Softest mineral; easily scratched with a fingernail.

Gypsum – Can be scratched by a fingernail.

Calcite – Scratched by a copper coin.

Fluorite – Scratched by steel or a knife.

Apatite – Harder than steel but can be scratched by a file.

Orthoclase (Feldspar) – Can scratch glass.

Quartz – Hard enough to scratch glass and steel.

Topaz – Can scratch quartz.

Corundum – Can scratch topaz and nearly all other minerals except
diamond.

Diamond – Hardest known mineral; can scratch any other material.

Cleavage
Mineral Cleavage refers to the tendency of a mineral to break along flat,
even surfaces, which are determined by the mineral’s crystal structure.
These cleavage planes are areas of weakness in the atomic bonding,
where the mineral breaks more easily.

Cleavage is a highly diagnostic property of minerals because it reveals

how a mineral’s internal atomic structure is organized. The way a mineral
cleaves can help identify it, as different minerals have different numbers
and orientations of cleavage planes.

How to observe it: Cleavage is observed by examining how a mineral

breaks. To test for cleavage, a small portion of the mineral can be broken,
and the resulting surfaces are examined to see if they form smooth, flat
planes.

Types of Cleavage in minerals.

Types of Cleavage:

Minerals can have one or more directions of cleavage, depending on their

crystal structure. Cleavage directions are described by the angles
between the planes of cleavage.

Types of Cleavage Based on Cleavage Directions

The number of cleavage planes and the angles between them are
important for identifying minerals. Common types include:

Basal (1 Direction): The mineral splits into thin sheets along one
plane.Example: Mica (e.g., biotite, muscovite) has perfect basal cleavage,
splitting into thin, flexible sheets.
Prismatic (2 Directions): Breaks into prismatic shapes along two
cleavage directions. Example: Feldspar (e.g., orthoclase) has prismatic
cleavage, with two cleavage directions at nearly right angles.

Cubic (3 Directions at 90°): The mineral breaks into cubes due to three
directions of cleavage intersecting at right angles. Example: Halite (salt)
and galena exhibit cubic cleavage.

Rhombohedral (3 Directions not at 90°): Cleavage planes intersect

but at angles other than 90°, forming rhombohedral shapes. Example:
Calcite has rhombohedral cleavage.

Octahedral (4 Directions): Breaks into shapes with eight faces, due to

four directions of cleavage. Example: Fluorite exhibits octahedral
cleavage.

Describing Cleavage Quality

 Perfect Cleavage: The mineral splits easily along one or more

planes with smooth, flat surfaces (e.g., mica).
 Good Cleavage: Breaks along cleavage planes with relatively
smooth surfaces but may not be perfect (e.g., feldspar).
 Poor or Indistinct Cleavage: Cleavage planes are not easily seen,
or the mineral breaks irregularly (e.g., apatite).

Examples:

 Mica: Exhibits perfect cleavage in one direction, allowing it to split

into thin sheets.
 Calcite: Cleaves along three planes not at right angles, producing
rhombohedral fragments.
 Halite: Breaks into cubes due to its cubic cleavage.

Fracture
Mineral Fracture refers to the way a mineral breaks when it does not
follow cleavage planes. Fracture occurs when the bonding forces between
the atoms are equally strong in all directions, and it results in an irregular
or non-planar breakage surface.

Unlike cleavage, which occurs along specific planes, fracture occurs in

minerals that either lack cleavage or break irregularly. The type of
fracture is often useful in identifying minerals that do not exhibit cleavage
or that break in more complex ways.

How to observe it: Fracture can be tested by breaking or chipping the

mineral in a way that does not follow any cleavage planes. The resulting
surface is then observed to determine the type of fracture.
Types of Fracture in minerals: Include conchoidal (curved), hackly (jagged), and splintery (long, thin pieces).

Types of Fracture:

Conchoidal Fracture: Smooth, curved surfaces that resemble the

interior of a shell. This type of fracture is common in minerals with no
cleavage, and it often occurs in very hard, brittle minerals. Examples:
Quartz, obsidian (volcanic glass).

Splintery Fracture: or Fibrous Breaks into fibers or splinters,

resembling wood or fibrous material. Examples: Asbestos, serpentine.

Hackly Fracture: Jagged, sharp, and torn surfaces, often resembling

broken metal, often with sharp edges. This type of fracture is common in
native metals. Examples: Native copper, native silver.

Uneven Fracture: Rough, irregular surfaces. This is the most common

type of fracture and occurs in many minerals. Examples: Hematite, pyrite.

Earthy Fracture: Breaks with a dull, powdery surface, often seen in soft,
fine-grained minerals. Examples: Limonite, kaolinite.

Form (Habit)
Crystal form, or habit, refers to the external shape that a mineral's
crystals assume when they have enough space to grow uninhibited. This
form is a direct reflection of the mineral’s internal atomic structure and
the symmetry of its crystal lattice.

Crystal habit helps to identify minerals, especially when they are well-
formed. The habit is influenced by the conditions of growth, such as
temperature, pressure, and the presence of space for unrestricted crystal
formation.

Mineral forms and habits: granular, prismatic, acicular, dendritic, botryoidal, granular, and massive.

Types of Crystal Habits

Equant (Cubic): Crystals that are roughly equal in all dimensions, giving
them a blocky or cubic appearance. Example: Garnet forms equant,
dodecahedral crystals.

Tabular: Crystals that are flat and plate-like, resembling a table.

Example: Barite and gypsum often exhibit a tabular habit.
Prismatic: Elongated crystals that are much longer in one direction than
in others, often forming prism-like shapes. Example: Quartz typically
forms prismatic crystals with hexagonal cross-sections.

Acicular: Needle-like crystals that are thin and long, forming slender
points. Example: Natrolite and other zeolite minerals often exhibit acicular
habits.

Bladed: Thin, flat crystals that resemble the shape of a knife blade.
Example: Kyanite forms bladed crystals.

Fibrous: Crystals that grow in long, thread-like strands. Example:

Chrysotile (a form of asbestos) exhibits fibrous crystal form.

Botryoidal: Crystals that form rounded, grape-like clusters. Example:

Hematite and malachite can form botryoidal masses.

Dendritic: Tree-like or branching crystal formations. Example: Native

silver and manganese oxides (e.g., pyrolusite) exhibit dendritic patterns.

Massive: Lacks distinct crystal faces, often forming large, shapeless

aggregates.Example: Limonite and chalcedony are examples of minerals
with massive habits.

Crystal habit can be observed by examining a mineral specimen closely,

particularly if the crystals are well-formed. Ideally, minerals are viewed in
samples where they have grown freely without being confined by
surrounding materials.

Specific Gravity (Density)

Specific gravity (SG) is the ratio of the weight of a mineral to the weight of
an equal volume of water at 4°C. It is a measure of the density of a
mineral relative to water, with no units attached.

Specific gravity is an important property in mineral identification because

it reflects the mineral’s composition and atomic structure. Minerals with a
higher specific gravity are typically composed of heavier elements or have
a denser atomic structure.

Testing mineral specific gravity

Example: Gold has a high specific gravity (about 19.3), making it feel
much heavier than other minerals of the same size. Quartz: SG = 2.65; a
common, relatively low-density mineral.

Tenacity
Tenacity describes how a mineral responds to stress, such as bending,
breaking, crushing, or pulling. It indicates the mineral’s toughness or
resistance to deformation.

Tenacity is an important physical property because it helps determine

how a mineral can be used, especially in industrial and manufacturing
processes where stress resistance is important.

Types of Tenacity:

Brittle: Minerals that break or shatter easily when struck. They have little
resistance to breaking. Example: Quartz, calcite, and halite are brittle and
shatter when hit.

Malleable: Minerals that can be hammered into thin sheets without

breaking. Example: Gold and copper are malleable, meaning they can be
shaped without fracturing.

Ductile: Minerals that can be stretched into a wire without breaking.

Example: Gold, copper, and silver exhibit ductility.

Sectile: Minerals that can be cut smoothly with a knife. Example: Gypsum
and talc can be cut with a knife due to their softness.

Elastic: Minerals that bend and return to their original shape after the
stress is removed. Example: Mica is elastic and can bend without
breaking, returning to its original form when released.

Flexible: Minerals that can bend but do not return to their original shape
once bent. Example: Chlorite can bend and remain in the bent shape.

Magnetism
Magnetism in minerals refers to their ability to interact with magnetic
fields, which includes being attracted to magnets, repelling from them, or
the mineral itself generating a magnetic field. It is determined by the
arrangement of unpaired electrons in a mineral’s atomic structure. The
presence of elements like iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co) usually
leads to magnetic behavior.

To test observe it a small hand magnet is placed near the mineral to

observe attraction or repulsion.

Certain minerals like Magnetite demonstrating its magnetic properties by attracting metal objects.
Photo: Phil Degginger / Science Photo Library

Types of Magnetism:
Ferromagnetic: Minerals that are strongly attracted to a magnetic field
and can retain magnetism even after the field is removed. Example:
Magnetite is the most well-known magnetic mineral.

Paramagnetic: Weakly magnetic Minerals that are weakly attracted to a

magnetic field but do not retain any magnetism when the external field is
removed. Example: Hematite shows weak magnetic properties.

Diamagnetic: Minerals that are weakly repelled by a magnetic field and

have no unpaired electrons. All electrons are paired, resulting in no net
magnetic moment. Example: Calcite is diamagnetic.

Double Refraction
Double refraction occurs when a ray of light passes through a mineral and
splits into two rays, creating a double image when viewed through the
mineral. This optical property is due to the difference in how light is
refracted in different directions within the crystal.

Double refraction Image splitting by a calcite crystal.

How to observe it: Double refraction can be tested by placing a mineral

over printed text or a line and observing if the text appears doubled.

Examples:

 Calcite: The most famous example of double refraction. When a

clear crystal of calcite is placed over printed text, two images of the
text are seen.
 Iceland spar (a form of calcite) exhibits double refraction, where
objects viewed through the crystal appear doubled.

Taste
Certain soluble minerals have distinctive tastes, which can help in their
identification. The taste is generally tested by carefully placing a small
amount of the mineral on the tongue.

Certain minerals have distinctive tastes like halite.

Screenshots of the movie 'Pirates of the Caribbean'.

Important Note: Taste testing should be done with caution

since some minerals may be toxic.

Examples:
  Halite (Rock Salt): Tastes like common table salt (NaCl).
 Sylvite: Tastes bitter compared to halite due to its potassium
content (KCl).

Odor / Smell
Certain minerals emit characteristic odors, either when scratched, broken,
or exposed to heat or moisture. These odors can help in identifying
specific minerals.

How to Test it: Odor can be detected by scratching or moistening the

mineral, or by heating it slightly to release volatile compounds.

Examples:

 Sulfur: Minerals containing sulfur, like pyrite, can give off a

sulfurous or "rotten egg" odor when rubbed or heated.
 Clay minerals: When moist, some clay minerals, such as kaolinite,
may emit a "earthy" or "clay-like" odor.
 Arsenopyrite: When struck or heated, it can release a garlic-
like odor due to the release of arsenic fumes.
Tactile or Feel
Certain minerals can have distinct tactile qualities "feels" when touched,
helping to identify them.

Examples:

 Smooth: Minerals like selenite (gypsum) or serpentine feel smooth

to the touch.
 Greasy: Minerals such as graphite or molybdenite have a greasy
feel due to their layer structure.
 Soapy: Talc Feels uniquely soapy due to its extreme softness (Mohs
hardness of 1).
 Waxy: Chalcedony or some jaspers can have a waxy feel related to
their luster.
 Slippery: Chlorite and graphite feel slippery due to their layered
structures.

Conclusion, These physical properties are critical tools in identifying

minerals in the field and in laboratory settings. Although some properties
like color may vary, a combination of these tests usually leads to accurate
identification.