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Colour is least reliable property to recognise mineral in field. but is best for studying and recognising mineral in lab under Polarized light microscope (PLM). <br /> let us take a simple example of quartz and calcite both have nearly same colour range so just by observing colour you can not give a guess but by applying different field techniques at same time we can distinguish them as calcite can be scratched by nail but quartz will not be scratched. <br /><br /> (Allah Knows the Best) <br /><br /> One interesting thing is that colour is most deceiving thing in this world. About 90% of frauds are done by colours. it I think I need not to explain it. :-) <br /><br /> CHEERS

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Q: Why is color the least reliable method for mineral identification?
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Related questions

Is color the best physical characteristic for mineral identification?

Specimen color is the least reliable method of mineral identification. Better characteristics are streak, density, and crystal structure.


Why isn't color the most reliable method of minerl identification?

A mineral specimen's color can be affected by radiation or impurities. A better method would be to use the mineral's streak, the color of the mineral in powdered form.


How reliable is color when determining what a mineral is?

Color is the least reliable of a mineral's characteristics used in its identification.


What is the least reliable mineral identification property?

Color.


What is the least reliable physical property for mineral identification?

Color


What is the least accurate way to identify a mineral?

The observable color is the least dependable method of mineral identification.


Why is the streak a more reliable property than color in mineral identification?

The streak, or color of a mineral's powder, represents the true color of a mineral without the effects observed in a hand specimen due to impurities, inclusions or differences in light reflection.


Why is a streak a more reliable property than a color in mineral identification?

The streak, or color of a mineral's powder, represents the true color of a mineral without the effects observed in a hand specimen due to impurities, inclusions or differences in light reflection.


What is an identification test for minerals that is not generally a reliable test?

Believe it or not color is the least reliable identification method for a mineral. While it can be very helpful when used along with other types of identification tests, color alone proves nearly useless. This is because several different minerals can have the same color or one mineral can be several different colors. Generally this is due to the varying chemical compositions a single mineral can take on. For example, iron, depending on its oxidation state, can cause the same mineral to be several different colors, leaving the examiner with a large list of possibilities. Also, in another example, there are hundreds of minerals that are known to be green so again the possibilities are endless.


Why is color not as reliable indicator of a mineral?

It's not reliable because there can be more than one mineral with that color


Which mineral property is the least reliable for identifying a mineral?

the color is the least reliable source!


What is the powdered form of the mineral?

The powder indicates the true color of the mineral and is an aid in mineral identification. That can also be called a streak.