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Streak tests are used to identify minerals. Rubbing a mineral specimen against unglazed white porcelain, or finely powdering it and examining the powder against a white background, is a useful diagnostic test in some cases. Eg. hematite, a black mineral that looks much like many other black minerals, has a distinctive red streak.

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What are the four main tests used to identify a mineral?

streak, hardness, density, luster.


What isn't a streak test used to help identify every mineral?

A streak test is not used to identify minerals with a hardness greater than 7 on the Mohs scale, as these minerals can scratch the streak plate. Additionally, streak tests may not be effective for identifying minerals that have a streak color similar to the streak plate itself.


Why doesn't the topaz leave a streak?

Topaz is a hard mineral, ranking 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, so it is harder than most common materials used to test streak. Since streak tests are typically performed on softer minerals, such as using a porcelain streak plate with a hardness of about 6.5, the topaz does not leave a streak because it is harder than the material being used for the test.


Can you name the tests that scientists use to identify minerals?

hardness and streak


What are two tests scientists use to identify minerals?

hardness and streak


One way to help identify a mineral is to rub it against a piece of porcelain tile This procedure tests the of the mineral?

That procedure tests the streak of the mineral. Oddly, the streak color of some minerals are different from the mineral's color.


What is a streak?

In Geology, the 'streak test' is used to identify a mineral by either grinding it to a powder, or scraping across a rough surface to study the streak left behind. It also tests a mineral's hardness.


Why do you need to know hardness and streak to identify minerals?

Any identifying characteristics help when you are dealing with an unknown mineral. You have to use all of the clues at your disposal to make a proper identification. Streak and hardness are 2 important tests.


Why is streak and hardness poor tests used to identify gold?

Streak and hardness tests are considered poor for identifying gold because gold has a distinctive yellow color that does not change when scratched (streak test) or when subjected to hardness testing. Gold is also a relatively soft metal with a hardness of around 2.5-3 on the Mohs scale, meaning it can be easily scratched by many common objects, making hardness testing less reliable for gold identification.


What kinds of tests can you do to figure out the difference between diamonds and calcite?

The tests you can do is the streak test, the luster test,the finger nail test(which is scratching it ti see if its hard or not).


How streak is used to distinguish between gold and pyrite?

Gold will have a yellow metallic streak, pyrite will have a greenish-black streak.


What can you rub a mineral on to leave a clue what the mineral?

A streak plate, or unglazed white porcelain tile, is used to perform streak tests which can help to identify minerals. Rubbing the mineral on the streak plate will finely powder it and reveal the color of the powder, which in some cases is quite different from the color of the mineral. Eg: hematite is black but has a red streak - a good way to tell you have hematite instead of one of the many other shiny black minerals.