Understanding Physical Properties for Mineral Identification

Explore the key physical properties used to identify minerals, including color, streak, hardness, cleavage, fracture, luster, and density. Learn how these properties play a crucial role in mineral identification and how to apply them effectively.

• Mineral identification
• Physical properties
• Color
• Hardness
• Cleavage

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1. Mineral Properties to Identify Minerals

2. Learning Objectives I can describe physical properties used to identify minerals. I can use physical properties to identify minerals.

3. Physical Properties of Minerals: Physical Properties of Minerals: Used for Identification (I.D.) Used for Identification (I.D.) Color Streak Hardness Cleavage Fracture Luster Density

4. Color Color First impression Not very reliable because lots of minerals can occur in many different colors

5. Quartz Purple Amethyst

6. Clear Blue Green Purple Fluorite

7. Streak Streak The TRUE color of a mineral Color of a mineral s powder Minerals with a hardness greater than 7 usually don t create a streak on the streak plate because they are harder than the Porcelain tile (unless the streak plate is specially made).

8. Hardness Hardness A mineral s resistance to being scratched Mohs Hardness Scale from 1-10 Hardness depends on how tightly packed the atoms are

9. Mohs Hardness Scale Mohs Hardness Scale Softest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Diamond Talc Gypsum Calcite Fluorite Apatite Potassium feldspar Quartz Topaz Corundum Hardest

11. Cleavage Cleavage Splits along definite planes

12. Cleavage Cleavage Cleav = to split split Cleaver

14. Fracture Fracture Breaks irregularly, jagged edges

15. Fracture Examples Fracture Examples

16. Luster Luster How light shines off a mineral Metallic or Nonmetallic

17. Luster Examples Luster Examples Nonmetallic Metallic

18. Density Density The ratio of an objects mass to its volume Good to use to identify as most minerals do not have the same density

19. Special Properties Special Properties 1. Magnetism 2. Double Refraction 3. Fluorescence 4. Phosphorescence 5. Piezoelectric 6. Acid Test

20. Magnetism Magnetism Attracted to a magnet Contains IRON, cobalt, or nickel

21. Double Refraction Double Refraction Looking through it, you see double Ex. Calcite

22. Fluorescence Fluorescence Glows under ultraviolet (UV) light

23. Fluorescence under ultraviolet, UV light

24. Phosphorescence Phosphorescence Continues to glow even after the UV light has been removed

25. Piezoelectric (Pressure=Electricity) Piezoelectric (Pressure=Electricity) Electricity is generated from Pressure Example: Quartz

26. Acid Test Acid Test Use hydrochloric acid Tests for carbonate (calcite)