StreakColor of the mineral when it is powdered.Grind a small amount of a mineral into a powder on a porcelain streak plate and determine the color of the powder.
Luster is the light reflection a mineral has, which can be broken down into categories like metallic, silky, and dull. The luster dictates what type of mineral it is.
Clastic sedimentary rocks are made of broken pieces of preexisting rock that are compacted together. The mineral quartz makes up sixty percent of the clastic sedimentary rocks.
Color-- this varies depending on the chemicals present and is the least informative in identifying a mineral varietyLuster-- what the surface looks like in the lightSpecific Gravity-- how heavy it feels, heftCrystal Form-- 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 shapesCleavage-- pattern when mineral is broken -- in planes or conchoidalFractureTenacity - toughness, how cohesive the mineral is, if it falls apartHardness-- what it can scratch & what scratches itTransparency- 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.
Common mineral properties include:Breakage- whether the mineral cleaves in predictable patterns or fractures in random patternsColor- 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 pearlyCrystal 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 mineralOther Properties:Specific Gravity, magnetism, smell, taste, reaction to acid
Quartz breaks into tiny dust like pieces when broken or crushed. It is one of the hardest minerals on the hardness scale.
Streak is the property of a mineral that is determined by rubbing the mineral on a special plate to reveal the color of its powdered form. This can help identify minerals because a mineral's streak color is often different from its external color.
streak.
The property of a mineral that causes it to break with rough edges is called fracture. Fracture can occur in minerals that do not exhibit cleavage, resulting in irregular or jagged surfaces when the mineral is broken. This type of breakage is typically due to the mineral's atomic structure and how its bonds are oriented.
It is all part of life minerals come and go so to start a new mineral you need an old broken down mineral
Step-like cleavage is a property of the mineral mica. Mica minerals exhibit a planar arrangement of atoms that allow them to easily separate along flat surfaces, giving them a distinctive step-like appearance when broken or cleaved.
Minerals can be identified by their streak, which is the color of the mineral when it is broken down into a powder. To test a mineral's streak, a streak plate (usually made of unglazed porcelain) is used. The streak is usually compared to a streak color chart, which contains the colors of a variety of minerals. To test a mineral for its streak, take a small piece of the mineral and rub it on the streak plate. The resulting powder is then compared to the streak chart to identify the mineral. Streak is an important property of minerals because it is more reliable than the external color of the mineral. External color can be altered by impurities and oxidation, but the streak of a mineral does not change. Therefore, testing a mineral's streak is an effective way of identifying it.When identifying minerals according to streak, it is important to consider the following properties: Color - the color of the powder when rubbed on the streak plate. Luster - the shine of the powder when rubbed on the streak plate. Texture - the feel of the powder when rubbed on the streak plate. Opacity - the transparency of the powder when rubbed on the streak plate.By considering these properties when testing a mineral's streak, it is possible to identify the mineral accurately and quickly.
Calcite is a mineral that can be broken down by acid, particularly by dilute hydrochloric acid. The acid reacts with the calcium carbonate in calcite, causing it to dissolve and release carbon dioxide gas. This reaction is commonly used to test and identify certain minerals in geology.
It is a fault line, or fissure, along which it may be split.
Minerals dissolve when they come into contact with a solvent such as water and the chemical bonds holding the mineral's atoms together are broken. This process involves the mineral's ions entering into the solution, leading to the mineral dissolving and dispersing into the solution. The ability of a mineral to dissolve depends on its chemical composition and the properties of the solvent.
Minerals are classified according to the elements they contain. Other important features for classification purposes include the crystalline structure, hardness and cleavage of the mineral when broken.
its silicate
Luster is the light reflection a mineral has, which can be broken down into categories like metallic, silky, and dull. The luster dictates what type of mineral it is.