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Common mineral properties include:
Breakage- whether the mineral cleaves in predictable patterns or fractures in random patterns
Color- some minerals have characteristic colors, while others may come in a variety of colors. Color of minerals is largely due to environmental factors during formation (temperature, radiation, pollution)
Hardness- the mineral's ability to resist being scratched, measured by Mohs hardness scale.
Luster- how light is reflected off the mineral, is either metallic or nonmetalic. Nonmetallic is broken into 3 subcategories: earthy, glassy, or pearly
Crystal form- the way in which the crystals pattern themselves. There are six major patterns: cubic, hexagonal, tetragonal, monoclinal, triclinal, and orthorhombic.
Streak- the color of the powder left behind when a mineral is rubbed over a rough surface (streak plate), reveals the "true" color of the mineral
Other Properties:
Specific Gravity, magnetism, smell, taste, reaction to acid
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Why chemical properties not always used to identify minerals?
The stripe, and color
How do scientists identify minerals?
Scientist identify minerals by Their Special properties. An example of a special propertie is a Chemical Reaction .
Why are chemical properties not always used to identify minerals?
Testing the chemical properties of a mineral might damage the mineral sample. Also, these tests can be complex and may require expensive equipment.
Are all minerals made of one mineral?
True.
Is a mineral a type of rock?
mineral is a naturally occurring solid chemical substance formed through biogeochemical processes, having characteristic chemical composition, highly ordered atomic structure, and specific physical properties. By comparison, a rock is an aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids and does not have a specific chemical composition. Minerals range in composition from pure elements and simple salts to very complex silicates with thousands of known forms.[1] The study of minerals is called mineralogy.Contents[hide] 1 Mineral definition and classification2 Crystal structure 2.1 Mineral groups and solid solution3 Differences between minerals and rocks 3.1 Mineral composition of rocks4 Physical properties of minerals5 Chemical properties of minerals 5.1 Silicate class5.2 Carbonate class5.3 Sulfate class5.4 Halide class5.5 Oxide class5.6 Sulfide class5.7 Phosphate class5.8 Element class5.9 Organic class6 See also7 References8 External links
Name two properties of minerals that depend on chemical bonds?
Examples: chemical reactivity, toxicity, flammability, stability.
What are two ways to classify minerals?
Minerals are classified by chemical formula, composition, physical properties, optical properties, and special properties. The Dana Classification System is a chemical classification for minerals, and the Strunz Classification System (chemical-structural) are two systems designed for mineral classification.
Can minerals be identified based on their physical and chemical properties.?
Yes
Why chemical properties not always used to identify minerals?
The stripe, and color
Minerals are identified on the basis of what?
Yes, they are classified by element or chemical composition.
How do scientists identify minerals?
Scientist identify minerals by Their Special properties. An example of a special propertie is a Chemical Reaction .
What is an inorganic substance formed in the earth with distinct chemical and physical properties?
minerals.
What is the inorganic substances formed in the earth with distinct chemical and physical properties?
minerals.
What is an inorganic substance formed in earth with distinct chemical and physical properties?
Minerals
Describe 3 special properties of minerals?
Radioactivity, Taste, Chemical Reaction, Magnetism, Optical Properties, and Fluorescence.
How do you describe the properties of rocks and minerals?
Rocks and minerals are classified by such properties as chemical composition, radioactivity, phosphorescence, grain size, hardness, color, streak, fluorescence, chemical reactiveness, crystal structure, cleavage, density, luster, habit, fracture, optical properties, and opacity.
Can rocks be minerals?
No they are not the same thing because rocks are made up of minerals and minerals have specific chemical and physical properties unlike rocks!
