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Properties of Minerals

The Physical properties of minerals are used by Mineralogists to help determine the identity of a specimen. Some of the tests can be performed easily in the field, while others require laboratory equipment. For the beginning student of geology, there are a number of simple tests that can be used with a good degree of accuracy. The list of tests is in a suggested order, progressing from simple experimentation and observation to more complicated either in procedure or concept.

Properties of Minerals

The following physical properties of minerals can be easily used to identify a mineral:

1. Color

2. Streak

3. Hardness

4. Cleavage or Fracture

5. Crystalline Structure

6. Diaphaneity or Amount of Transparency

7. Tenacity

8. Magnetism

9. Luster

10. Odor

11. Taste

12. Specific Gravity

Below is a detailed description of each of these properties of minerals.

Properties of Minerals- A Detailed Description

Color

Most minerals have a distinctive color that can be used for identification. In opaque minerals, the color tends to be more consistent, so learning the colors associated with these minerals can be very helpful in identification. Translucent to transparent minerals have a much more varied degree of color due to the presence of trace minerals. Therefore, color alone is not reliable as a single identifying characteristic.

Streak 

Streak is the color of the mineral in powdered form. Streak shows the true color of the mineral. In large solid form, trace minerals can change the color appearance of a mineral by reflecting the light in a certain way. Trace minerals have little influence on the reflection of the small powdery particles of the streak.

The streak of metallic minerals tends to appear dark because the small particles of the streak absorb the light hitting them. Non-metallic particles tend to reflect most of the light so they appear lighter in color or almost white.

Because streak is a...