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however many light colored minerals can be discoverd by small amount of impurities

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Why is color considered to be the worst property to use when identifying a mineral?

Color is considered the worst property to use when identifying a mineral because many minerals can have the same color, making it unreliable for distinguishing between different types. Additionally, the same mineral can exhibit a range of colors due to impurities or environmental factors. Therefore, relying solely on color can lead to misidentification of minerals.


What properties would you use to determine whether two minerals are different minerals?

You could use the streak color, whether it has cleavage or fracture, the texture, the luster, the hardness, the color, and lots of different properties.


Is luster a good characteristic to use for the identification of minerals Why or why not?

Luster can be a useful characteristic for identifying minerals, as it describes how a mineral reflects light, ranging from metallic to dull. However, it is not always reliable on its own, as different minerals can exhibit similar luster types, and some may have altered luster due to weathering or impurities. Therefore, while luster is an important factor, it should be used in conjunction with other properties such as hardness, color, and streak for more accurate mineral identification.


What is the least reliable property to use to identify a mineral?

Color is the least reliable property to use to identify a mineral because many minerals can occur in various colors due to impurities in the crystal structure.


What are two pieces of criteria for identifying a mineral?

Two distinguishing characteristics of a mineral are its crystalline structure and its hardness. Other field tests would include a streak test and possibly a test of specific gravity. Color can also be of some use.

Related Questions

Why is color considered to be the worst property to use when identifying a mineral?

Color is considered the worst property to use when identifying a mineral because many minerals can have the same color, making it unreliable for distinguishing between different types. Additionally, the same mineral can exhibit a range of colors due to impurities or environmental factors. Therefore, relying solely on color can lead to misidentification of minerals.


What properties can scienctist use to identify minerals?

Color


What properties can scientist use to identify minerals?

color


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


What properties would you use to determine whether two minerals are different minerals?

You could use the streak color, whether it has cleavage or fracture, the texture, the luster, the hardness, the color, and lots of different properties.


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 can't color alone be use to identify most minerals?

Many minerals have similar color, and mineral color can be altered by trace amounts of impurities or by weathering. A better indicator would be the mineral's streak, which is the color of the mineral when powdered, although this characteristic can't be used alone in mineral identification.


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.


What five characteristics do geologists use to identify a mineral?

Geologists use properties such as color, luster, hardness, cleavage, and specific gravity to identify minerals. These characteristics help in distinguishing one mineral from another based on their physical and chemical properties.


What are ways geologists use to identify minerals?

they have to look at the mineral.see what color it is.see the shape.how does it feel to you........?


What examine the geologists to identify minerals?

Geologists examine minerals by analyzing their physical and chemical properties, such as color, luster, hardness, cleavage, and specific gravity. They may also use tools like a microscope or X-ray diffraction to study the mineral's crystal structure and composition. Additionally, they often conduct chemical tests to determine the mineral's elemental makeup. This comprehensive approach helps in accurately identifying and classifying different minerals.


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.