you look at a mohs scale
There are two ways. One way is to buy a scratch test kit and follow the instructions. They will tell you to try to scratch minerals of certain hardnesses and find the hardest one it can scratch. For example, if it scratches a mineral with a hardness of 6 but not one with a hardness of 7, the hardness would be between 6 and 7. If you do not have one of those available, you can try scratching common objects. Your fingernail is 1.5, a penny is 2.5, a pocketknife blade is 5.0, window glass is 5.5, a steel file is 6.5, and quartz is 7.0.
The hardEST is a diamond, and some other hard ones are corundum and topaz. If you look up Moh's hardness scale, it will show you some.
To identify a mineral, you can examine its color, which may provide initial clues, though it can be misleading due to impurities. Hardness is another critical characteristic, measured by the Mohs scale, indicating how easily a mineral can be scratched. Additionally, the mineral's luster, or how it reflects light, can help distinguish it, as it may be metallic, glassy, or dull.
Look for the key in the front of it or if single page map, bottom corners usually
Any type of metal. This can include (but isn't limited to) potassium, magnesium, calcium, tantalum, tungsten, etc.
You start by scratching it and seek it's hardness. When you find its hardness, compare it to another mineral with the same hardness. If they look exactly the same, and have the same arrangements of minerals, then they are the exact same mineral.
You start by scratching it and seek it's hardness. When you find its hardness, compare it to another mineral with the same hardness. If they look exactly the same, and have the same arrangements of minerals, then they are the exact same mineral.
Begin by taking a look at the mineral's color, Examine the mineral and take note of its surface features,Get out the materials needed for the hardness test (see Things You'll need), The number is the hardness, followed by the characteristics of a mineral of that hardness and an example, Next find out your mineral's luster,Now for the streak test, You can also identify a mineral by the way it breaks. If it breaks along a smooth, flat surface (such as mica), it has cleavage. If your mineral breaks along rough, jagged surfaces, it has fracture. Thats all you need to do.
Begin by taking a look at the mineral's color, Examine the mineral and take note of its surface features,Get out the materials needed for the hardness test (see Things You'll need), The number is the hardness, followed by the characteristics of a mineral of that hardness and an example, Next find out your mineral's luster,Now for the streak test, You can also identify a mineral by the way it breaks. If it breaks along a smooth, flat surface (such as mica), it has cleavage. If your mineral breaks along rough, jagged surfaces, it has fracture. Thats all you need to do.
There are two ways. One way is to buy a scratch test kit and follow the instructions. They will tell you to try to scratch minerals of certain hardnesses and find the hardest one it can scratch. For example, if it scratches a mineral with a hardness of 6 but not one with a hardness of 7, the hardness would be between 6 and 7. If you do not have one of those available, you can try scratching common objects. Your fingernail is 1.5, a penny is 2.5, a pocketknife blade is 5.0, window glass is 5.5, a steel file is 6.5, and quartz is 7.0.
Hardness test based on the Mohs Scale of relative mineral hardness, specific gravity, streak test for mineral color, classification of mineral crystal system, chemical analysis.
Lustre Colour Cleavage Hardness Streak Crystal Habit Specific Gravity Magnetism Effervescence Double Refraction Taste Feel
The answer is quite complicated in fact I don't know the exact answer. What I really know is that a geologist will probably know the exact answer. Geologists study rocks and rocks have lots of minerals. You can search the answer as well by looking at geologist websites. If it doesn't work then I hope someone else can edit this answer.
Some minerals are hard yet some are soft. Talc is the softest mineral as diamond is the hardest mineral. You can look at this on the hardness scale. It goes from one to ten, so talc is one as diamond is ten.
The hardEST is a diamond, and some other hard ones are corundum and topaz. If you look up Moh's hardness scale, it will show you some.
Look at the color. (This is not a definitive way to judge the nature of the mineral in question)For carbonate rocks, you can use a dilute acid.Another way is the Mohs scale for hardness, seen herehttp://stloe.most.go.th/html/lo_index/LOcanada2/203/images/2_3_4en.jpg
To identify a mineral, you can examine its color, which may provide initial clues, though it can be misleading due to impurities. Hardness is another critical characteristic, measured by the Mohs scale, indicating how easily a mineral can be scratched. Additionally, the mineral's luster, or how it reflects light, can help distinguish it, as it may be metallic, glassy, or dull.