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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.

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2w ago

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Related Questions

How do you determine if something is a mineral?

Look if is solid, is it formed in nature.


What is a way to identify minerals?

The scratch test, use a series of mineral with known hardness and scratch the mineral. From softest to hardest, and note where a scratch is made. You can also look for distinctive physical characteristics.


How do you determine the orgin of a rock sample?

The first step would be to determine what type of rock it is, based on the classifications of igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic. All three have sets of characteristics common to them that indicate their method of formation. Beyond that, to find the actual place of origin geographically of a specific rock sample that may have been transported by erosional processes far from its place of origin, you would have to have some knowledge of formations--bodies of rock with specific characteristics that are found only in that formation. Factors to look at in the sample would be texture, type, fossils, and mineral composition.


What does AV software look for to determine that a program or a process is a virus?

It looks for distinguishing characteristics called virus signatures.


What is the method of scientist use to determine the characteristics of the earths interior?

They look at the elements of the landmass.


What three things do scientists look for when they classify organisms?

When classifying organisms, scientists look for three main things: shared physical characteristics, genetic similarities, and evolutionary relationships. They observe and compare features such as anatomy, behavior, and molecular traits to determine how closely related different species are and how they should be classified into groups or categories.


How can you determine if a plant organ is a fruit?

To determine if a plant organ is a fruit, look for characteristics such as containing seeds, developing from the ovary of a flower, and being a mature ovary that has ripened.


How would a collector of minerals determine the hardness of an unknown mineral specimen.?

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.


How would collector of minerals determine the hardness of an unknown mineral specimen?

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.


Why do different types of rocks have observable characteristics?

The answer is implicit in your question - they are physical "objects" of different characteristics so their appearances differ. That's the first way to determine a rock's type: look it it!


What does AV software look for to determine that a program or process is a virus?

It looks for pre-programmed distinguishing characteristics called virus signatures.


What are the 4 questions used to tell if a substance is a mineral or not?

The four questions used to determine if a substance is a mineral are: Is it naturally occurring? Is it inorganic? Is it a solid? Does it have a specific chemical composition and a crystalline structure?