Physical Properties
This property describes how a mineral reflects light; it can be metallic or nonmetallic.
Luster
Use this simple tool (with numbers 1–10) to compare and rank mineral hardness by trying to scratch one mineral with another.
Mohs Hardness Scale
This shiny metal commonly occurs in native form as a mineral and is used in jewelry and electronics.
Gold
Most minerals are inorganic and have this kind of internal arrangement of atoms that repeats.
Crystal Structure
The measure of how easily a mineral is scratched; use the Mohs scale.
Hardness
Rubbing a mineral on an unglazed porcelain tile reveals this diagnostic powder color, which can differ from the mineral’s surface color.
Streak
The mineral quartz is widely used in making glass and in electronics because of its durability and its ability to vibrate at a precise frequency.
glassmaking/electronics
A mineral must be naturally occurring, solid, have a definite chemical composition, and this property (repeating internal arrangement)
crystalline structure
The color of a mineral’s powder when rubbed on a streak plate; often more reliable than surface color.
streak
A mineral that is strongly attracted to a magnet and may leave a black streak on a tile is likely this common iron oxide mineral.
magnetite
This soft mineral is used for talcum powder and in some cosmetics.
Talc
Name the mineral with chemical formula SiO2 that is a common component of many rocks.
quartz
When a mineral breaks along flat, even surfaces it is showing this property.
cleavage
To estimate a mineral’s density in class, measure its mass with a scale and its volume by water displacement; then compute mass divided by volume.
Density test
Gypsum is a mineral used to make this common building material for walls and ceilings
Drywall
The only common mineral that is made of carbon in a crystal form and is the hardest natural mineral is this.
Diamond
The mass of a mineral divided by its volume; an intrinsic property sometimes called specific gravity.
density
What is the correct mathematical formula used to calculate the density of a mineral sample?
D=M/V
Hematite is the main ore for producing this essential metal used in construction
Iron
This observation describes how a mineral’s surface reflects light and helps tell minerals with similar color apart (examples: glassy/vitreous, pearly, dull).
Luster