Characteristics of Minerals
Mineral Testing
Vocabulary
Common Minerals
Mohs Hardness
100
This word means tightly packed particles; it is the first characteristic of a mineral
What is solid?
100
Pearly, Glassy, Metallic, and Dull are all words that describe this mineral test.
What is the luster?
100
This is the term that describes why some minerals glow under ultraviolet
What is fluorescence?
100
This mineral is used in pencil lead.
What is graphite?
100
This mineral is the hardest mineral on Mohs hardness scale?
What is diamond?
200
This word means that the particles within a mineral repeat in a specific pattern.
What is Orderly crystal structure?
200
This is the LEAST reliable mineral test.
What is color?
200
This is the scale used to determine the hardness of a mineral.
What is Moh's Hardness Scale?
200
This mineral is the most common mineral found in Georgia.
What is quartz?
200
This mineral can scratch talc but not calcite?
What is gypsum?
300
This word means that a mineral is made up of specific elements.
What is chemical composition?
300
This mineral test is observed by dropping hydrochloric acid on a mineral to see if it bubbles.
What is reactivity OR acid reaction?
300
This term describes the breakage of mineral as irregular.
What is fracture?
300
This mineral is also known as "fool's gold".
What is pyrite?
300
This mineral has a hardness of between 6.5 and 5.5
What is orthoclase?
400
This word means that something is NOT man made; it occurs in nature
What is naturally occurring?
400
This mineral test uses a scale made by a man named Mohs from 1-10 to describe a mineral.
What is hardness?
400
This term describes a hollow stone found on the earth that is lined on the inside with crystals
What is a geode?
400
This mineral is the softest mineral on Mohs Scale. It is often used in baby powder.
What is talc?
400
This mineral is a 1 on Mohs hardness scale, making it the softest mineral.
What is talc?
500
This word means that minerals are not formed from the remains of living things.
What is inorganic?
500
This mineral test describes the color of powder left behind when rubbing a mineral on an unglazed porcelain plate.
What is streak?
500
This term describes the appearance or feel of a mineral. For example: bumpy, smooth, flaky
What is texture?
500
This mineral is the most common mineral on Earth. It is found in the earth's crust.
What is feldspar?
500
This mineral is harder than Topaz but softer than a diamond.
What is corundum?