What is the 9 characteristics of a mineral?

Answer 1

1. Color
2. -- this varies depending on the chemicals present and is the least informative in identifying a mineral variety

1. Luster
2. -- what the surface looks like in the light

1. Specific Gravity
2. -- how heavy it feels, heft

1. Crystal Form
2. -- shape of crystal, shape the mineral would take if it had room to grow in a cavity, not massive -- some minerals have a number of different crystal shapes

1. Cleavage
2. -- pattern when mineral is broken -- in planes or conchoidal

1. Fracture
2. Tenacity - toughness, how cohesive the mineral is, if it falls apart

1. Hardness
2. -- what it can scratch & what scratches it

1. Transparency
2. - The ability to transmit light. Depending on a number of things, rocks & minerals can also transmit light. Many rocks that are opaque when in a chunk, are translucent when cut into very thin slices. Gems stones are often valued on how clear, or transparent they are.

Answer 2

This is the common method for determining mineral types

Color

Luster

Streak

Hardness

Cleavage

Specific Gravity

Crystal Form