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Luster is not a good property for identifying minerals because many minerals look similar. Your best way of knowing which mineral is which is by measuring their hardness.

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Q: Why isn't luster a good property to identify minerals?
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Why is color not a good property to use to identify mineral?

because the color of a mineral can be the same as some other minerals but all minerals have a different property between them


Why is color not a good mineral property to use to identify minerals?

Simply because colour has nothing to do with any other property of the substance in question.


Which propety is generally the least useful when identifying minerals?

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.


How can one learn to identify rocks and minerals?

Learning to identify rocks can be difficult when you are first started. Once you get the hang of it though you will start to notice patterns and similarities that will help you to identify rocks and minerals. A good way to start is by purchasing a book about rocks and minerals as well as doing some research on the web.


Does limestone have luster?

Granite is not naturally shiny but it be polished to achieve a surface shine.


What is a typical property of a metal?

It has luster, it is usually a good conductor of electricity, it is malleable (able to be pressed into sheets) and ductile (able to be stretched into wires).


Why is color commonly unreliable property for identifying minerals?

Although most people think of color as an important characteristic of a specimen, it is not very useful in identifying a mineral.color is one of the physical properties most commonly used to describe minerals,but it is not a very good property to use to identify mineralssome minerals are nearly always the same color like azurite (blue) and sulfur (yellow)many minerals come in a variety of colors - the changes are caused by slight chemical impurities or through exposure to heatcolor can change when the surface is exposed to moisture & air - it tarnishes or oxidizessome minerals have common names (varietal names) that describe a specimen with a certain coloreg. Quartz - rock crystal (colorless), smoky quartz (brown), citrine (yellow), amethyst (violet),rose quartz (pink)color can be described as metallic or non-metallic and is often described along with luster though they are 2 different characteristicsrocks are often distinctive or named because of a certain color which occurs because of their mineral content


Why is color not always a good way to identify minerals?

Color is not always a good way to identify minerals because some minerals change colors at certain temperatures. Some minerals have several colors and some are found in varied colors.


Which class of elements has no luster and is a poor conductor?

non-metals mostly do not have the metallic luster and the electron clloud which leads to it and to good conductivity


How does citric acid serve as a cleaning agent?

Citric acid has a chemical property called chelation that allows it to bind easily to minerals and metals. Using this property, minerals can be removed when cleaning.Source: http:/www.wisegeek.com/what-is-citric-acid.htm


What elements have luster and are good conductors of heat and electricity?

A metal has luster and conducts heat and electricity. Most of the elements are metals and plastic


Diamond has what type of luster?

Adamantine to waxy luster are the words used to describe the luster of diamonds. According to Wikipedia: "Adamantine minerals possess a superlative lustre, which is most notably seen in diamond. Such minerals are transparent or translucent, and have a high refractive index (of 1.9 or more)." Luster is the clarity and refractivity of an individual stone. Not all diamonds are created equal. Flawless diamonds are extremely rare and can be prohibitively expensive for most of us. In jewelry, generally diamonds evaluated as those containing VVSI (very very slightly included) to SI2 (two slight inclusions), are more affordable. SI2 is generally the lowest grade for good gems. Inclusions can be any imperfection. The luster is its refractiveness. Its ability to bounce back available light from inside the stone. This can be affected by the color, cut or clarity. Only 20% of all diamonds mined are gem-stone quality.