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The least useful characteristic in identifying a mineral crystal would be its color. This is because many minerals can occur in a variety of colors due to impurities, weathering, or different crystal forms, making color an unreliable identifier. Additionally, some minerals may share similar colors, further complicating identification based solely on this property. Other characteristics, such as hardness, crystal form, and streak, provide more consistent and reliable information for identification.

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3d ago

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What is the most reliable clue in identifying a mineral?

The most reliable clue in identifying a mineral is its crystal structure, which is determined by the internal arrangement of atoms in the mineral. Other helpful clues include its hardness, color, luster, and cleavage or fracture patterns.


What is the streak of tanzanite?

Tanzanite has a streak that is typically a light blue to violet color. Streak refers to the color of the powder produced when a mineral is scraped across a hard surface, such as a porcelain plate. This characteristic can be useful in identifying the mineral, as the streak color may differ from the color of the mineral itself. Tanzanite's streak helps to confirm its identity in mineralogy.


Which property would be most useful in identifying the unknown rock?

The property of cleavage or fracture would be most useful in identifying the unknown rock. Cleavage refers to the way a mineral breaks along flat surfaces, while fracture refers to how it breaks when no cleavage is present. These properties can help to determine the mineral composition of the rock.


Why is density is a useful physical property for identifying substances?

Density is useful for identifying an unknown material because it is a physical constant. A physical constant is a unique characteristic of the material in question. This constant never change or vary with the shape or amount of the material/substance.


What is a crystal system why is it useful to classify mineral crystals this way?

A crystal system is a method for categorizing minerals based on their crystal structure and symmetry. This classification is useful because it helps geologists and mineralogists identify and describe minerals more accurately. It also provides insight into the physical properties and formation conditions of minerals within each crystal system.

Related Questions

Which of the following characteristics is least useful in identifying a mineral?

habit, color, streak, luster, density, hardness, cleavage, fracture, tenacity


What constant properties that are most useful in identifying a substance?

Characteristic properties.


What two properties are least useful in identifying a mineral?

Color and streak would be the least useful, because they may be shared by a multitude of other minerals.


What is the least useful characteristic in identifying minerals?

Color is often the least useful characteristic in identifying minerals because many minerals can occur in a variety of colors due to impurities. Instead, properties like hardness, luster, cleavage, and streak are more reliable for identifying minerals.


Which mineral Which mineral property is the least reliable for identifying a mineralproperty is the least reliable for identifying a mineral?

Color is often the least reliable property for identifying a mineral because many minerals can occur in various colors or shades due to impurities. Other properties such as hardness, cleavage, and specific gravity are more useful for mineral identification.


What is generally the least useful in identifying minerals?

Color is generally the least useful characteristic in identifying minerals, as many minerals can come in a variety of colors. Other properties, such as hardness, streak, cleavage, and specific gravity, are more reliable indicators for identifying minerals.


What properties are least useful in identifying a mineral?

Color and streak would be the least useful, because they may be shared by a multitude of other minerals.


What is the most reliable clue in identifying a mineral?

The most reliable clue in identifying a mineral is its crystal structure, which is determined by the internal arrangement of atoms in the mineral. Other helpful clues include its hardness, color, luster, and cleavage or fracture patterns.


Is color an important characteristic for identifying a sedimentary rock?

Color can be useful for identifying some sedimentary rocks, but it should not be relied upon solely as a defining characteristic. Other properties such as grain size, texture, and mineral composition are typically more reliable indicators of a sedimentary rock's identity.


What is the streak of tanzanite?

Tanzanite has a streak that is typically a light blue to violet color. Streak refers to the color of the powder produced when a mineral is scraped across a hard surface, such as a porcelain plate. This characteristic can be useful in identifying the mineral, as the streak color may differ from the color of the mineral itself. Tanzanite's streak helps to confirm its identity in mineralogy.


Which property would be most useful in identifying the unknown rock?

The property of cleavage or fracture would be most useful in identifying the unknown rock. Cleavage refers to the way a mineral breaks along flat surfaces, while fracture refers to how it breaks when no cleavage is present. These properties can help to determine the mineral composition of the rock.


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.