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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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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


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.


What is one property that may be used to distinguish metallic from nonmetallic minerals?

One property that can be used to distinguish metallic from nonmetallic minerals is luster. Metallic minerals have a shiny, reflective surface due to their high metal content, whereas nonmetallic minerals have a dull, earthy, or glassy appearance.


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

Color is not a reliable property because many minerals can occur in a variety of colors due to impurities or differing environmental conditions. It is common for two different minerals to share the same color, making it difficult to distinguish them based on color alone. Therefore, color is not a definitive characteristic and should be used in conjunction with other properties for accurate mineral identification.


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.


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).


Does limestone have luster?

Yes, limestone typically has a dull or earthy luster due to its high calcium carbonate content and fine-grained texture. It does not usually exhibit a shiny or reflective appearance like some other minerals or rocks.


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.


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


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


Are alkaline earth metal shiny or dull?

Alkali Earth metals are shiny. All metals have a property called luster witch means that they are shiny. All metals are also malleable, ductile, and are good conductors.