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Being able to identify minerals is like being able to identify diamonds from quartz--The person that makes the right choice is rewarded financially. Correct information is the kingpin of mining.
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Elza Olson

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3y ago

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Why is color one of the least useful tests to help you identify an unknown mineral?

Color can be misleading because many minerals can come in a variety of colors due to impurities or variations in chemical composition. Therefore, relying solely on color to identify a mineral may lead to misidentification. Other properties such as hardness, streak, and crystal structure are more reliable for mineral identification.


Is specific gravity a way to identify minerals?

Minerals will have many different characteristics which can be used together to identify them.Density or specific gravity would be one element of the identification.You might also use: Color & Texture Melting Point Reactions with various chemicals. Identification of reaction products.


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.


How does the arrangement of atoms into crystalline structures help geologists identify minerals?

The way a mineral naturally breaks is called its cleavage. The number and orientation of cleavages can help identify a mineral. For instance, micas have a single cleavage, and break up into flat plates. Pyroxines have two cleavages at 90 degrees to each other, and break into square prisms. Calcite has three at 120 degrees, and naturally breaks into rhombs. Different minerals may have the same cleavage, but it helps to narrow down a mineral's identity.


Why color is an unreliable clue to the identify of a mineral?

Color alone is unreliable because many minerals come in a variety of colors due to impurities or variations in their chemical composition. This means that different minerals can have the same color, making it difficult to identify them based solely on this characteristic. It is more accurate to rely on other physical properties like hardness, luster, and crystal form for mineral identification.

Related Questions

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.


Least accurate way to identify a mineral?

the least accurate way to identify a mineral


Why isn't just determining if a mineral has cleavage enough to identify a mineral?

Because many minerals exhibit cleavage.


Information on geologist?

What is a geologist? A geologist is a person who studies the Earth and the materials it's made up of (A.K.A. geology). Geologists are also the subject of this speech. There are many kinds of geologists like economic geologists and marine geologists are two examples but I'm just going to deal on the general geologist. A major science they use is Earth science. Earth Science is any of the basic geologic sciences that are connected with the source, arrangement, and physical phenomena of the earth. Using this science geologists can identify countless things. They also identify rocks & minerals. To help identify a mineral's hardness, geologists use Moh's Mineral Scale of Hardness. This scale lists 1-10 weakest to hardest minerals. Moh's Scale is very helpful to geologists. There is also a lot of math involved with geology. One of these is calculus. Calculus is analysis of numbers with special symbols. Calculus helps with making graphs, diagrams, 3-D and 2-D maps, etc. Plus, using calculus geologists can make mathematical models to find oil. Most geologists need to use calculus! SO CALCULUS IS VERY VERY important to Earth Science. Like I said before, geologists are very good at studying rocks. There are three types of rocks: Igneous which is formed by magma and/or lava, Sedimentary which is formed by tiny & big sediments and Metamorphic which is a rock changed by heat & pressure. An example of Igneous is Basalt, a sedimentary is shale and a metamorphic is quartzite. Guess who figured this out. GEOLOGISTS! If it weren't for geologists, we really wouldn't know what rocks were, are, and will be.


Why is color one of the least useful tests to help you identify an unknown mineral?

Color can be misleading because many minerals can come in a variety of colors due to impurities or variations in chemical composition. Therefore, relying solely on color to identify a mineral may lead to misidentification. Other properties such as hardness, streak, and crystal structure are more reliable for mineral identification.


What the worst way to identify a mineral?

The worst way to identify a mineral is by relying solely on color or appearance, as many minerals can have similar colors or appearances despite having different chemical compositions. Additionally, using taste or smell to identify minerals is highly dangerous and not recommended. It is important to use a combination of tests such as hardness, streak, and specific gravity for accurate mineral identification.


Why color is not the best way to identify a mineral?

Color alone is not the best way to identify a mineral because many minerals have the same color or more than one color. Mineral color can be highly variable and it can change depending on surroundings.


Why is color the best way to identify a mineral?

Color alone is not the best way to identify a mineral because many minerals have the same color or more than one color. Mineral color can be highly variable and it can change depending on surroundings.


Is specific gravity a way to identify minerals?

Minerals will have many different characteristics which can be used together to identify them.Density or specific gravity would be one element of the identification.You might also use: Color & Texture Melting Point Reactions with various chemicals. Identification of reaction products.


What is the least accurate way to identify a mineral?

The observable color is the least dependable method of mineral identification.


What mineral property cannot be used to identify a mineral?

Mass


Which information would probably be most helpful to someone trying to identify a mineral sample?

Many igneous rocks can be identified by the position of their minerals.