Because color can vary based on the purity of the mineral.
Mineral streak is the color of the powder produced when a mineral is scratched on a porcelain streak plate. It is a useful property for identifying minerals, as different minerals can leave distinctively colored streaks.
The streak of a mineral is much more accurate in identifying a mineral than color. The streak of a mineral can distinguish minerals with metallic and non-metallic luster. For example, metallic minerals generally have a dark streak whereas non-metallic luster minerals often have a light colored streak.
When identifying minerals, having no streak is a property of hardness. A streak plate has a hardness of ~7(Moh's Scale). Thus any mineral having a hardness greater than 7 will have no streak.Metallic is the description of luster. Or the general appearance of a mineral surface in reflected light.If you were refering to the mineral having metal elements in it, streak is actually very useful for identifying them. Many minerals that are composed of non-metals have a white streak which can appear to be no streak, however there are also many minerals with no streak which are composed of non-metallic minerals (Diamond).
Color and streak would be the least useful, because they may be shared by a multitude of other minerals.
habit, color, streak, luster, density, hardness, cleavage, fracture, tenacity
Mineral streak is the color of the powder produced when a mineral is scratched on a porcelain streak plate. It is a useful property for identifying minerals, as different minerals can leave distinctively colored streaks.
Color and streak would be the least useful, because they may be shared by a multitude of other minerals.
The streak of a mineral is much more accurate in identifying a mineral than color. The streak of a mineral can distinguish minerals with metallic and non-metallic luster. For example, metallic minerals generally have a dark streak whereas non-metallic luster minerals often have a light colored streak.
When identifying minerals, having no streak is a property of hardness. A streak plate has a hardness of ~7(Moh's Scale). Thus any mineral having a hardness greater than 7 will have no streak.Metallic is the description of luster. Or the general appearance of a mineral surface in reflected light.If you were refering to the mineral having metal elements in it, streak is actually very useful for identifying them. Many minerals that are composed of non-metals have a white streak which can appear to be no streak, however there are also many minerals with no streak which are composed of non-metallic minerals (Diamond).
Color and streak would be the least useful, because they may be shared by a multitude of other minerals.
habit, color, streak, luster, density, hardness, cleavage, fracture, tenacity
The color of a mineral is the least useful when identifying minerals. A mineral can exist in various colors. This is because presence of certain chemicals will change the color of the mineral. Weathering can also change the color of the mineral. Therefore color is not a good property to identify minerals.
Color is often the least useful property in identifying minerals because many minerals can occur in a variety of colors due to impurities in their chemical composition. Instead, properties such as hardness, luster, and cleavage are more reliable for mineral identification.
Color is generally the least useful characteristic in identifying minerals, as many minerals can come in a variety of colors. Other properties, such as hardness, streak, cleavage, and specific gravity, are more reliable indicators for identifying minerals.
The Streak of Slate refers to the color left by a mineral when it is scratched on a ceramic plate. Slate typically has a black or dark gray streak due to its composition of primarily clay and volcanic ash. The streak test can be useful in identifying minerals based on their distinctive colors.
The color of the line left when a mineral is rubbed on a surface is called the streak color. This color may be different from the color of the mineral itself due to factors such as impurities or the mineral's composition. Streak testing is useful in identifying minerals as it can help distinguish between similar-looking minerals based on their streak colors.
Color is often the least useful characteristic in identifying minerals because many minerals can occur in a variety of colors due to impurities. Instead, properties like hardness, luster, cleavage, and streak are more reliable for identifying minerals.