answersLogoWhite

0

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.

User Avatar

AnswerBot

1y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

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.


The color of a mineral in its (blank) form is called streak?

The color of a mineral in its powdered form is called streak. This can be determined by rubbing the mineral against a porcelain streak plate, which helps reveal the true color of the mineral's powder. The streak color can sometimes differ from the apparent color of the mineral, making it a useful property for identification.


How an unglazed porcelain tile can be used to identify a minerel?

An unglazed porcelain tile can be used to identify a mineral through a process known as a streak test. By rubbing the mineral across the surface of the tile, it leaves a streak of powder. The color of the streak can help identify the mineral based on its unique characteristics.


Which of the properties would be most useful in identifying the unknown rock?

The most useful properties for identifying an unknown rock include its mineral composition, texture, and color. Additionally, its hardness and reaction to acids can provide critical clues. Observing these characteristics allows for comparisons with known rock types, aiding in accurate identification. Ultimately, a combination of these properties often yields the best results.


What are luster and streak?

Luster refers to how a mineral's surface reflects light - it can be metallic, glassy, pearly, or dull. Streak is the color of a mineral's powder when rubbed against an unglazed tile and can help identify the mineral even if its external color is different.

Related Questions

Is color a useful property when trying to identify a mineral?

no, because the same mineral can be more than one color.


What mineral property is the least useful property?

Luster is typically considered the least useful mineral property, as it does not provide much information about the mineral's identity or composition. Luster simply describes how light is reflected off the surface of a mineral, such as metallic, glassy, or dull, and can vary even within the same mineral species.


Which properties can you use to identify an unknown mineral?

You can use properties like color, luster, hardness, cleavage, streak, and specific gravity to help identify an unknown mineral. Additionally, conducting tests such as acid reactions, magnetism, and fluorescence can also aid in identifying the mineral.


What mineral properties cannot be used to identify a mineral?

The color, luster, and crystal shape of a mineral may be observed just by looking at the mineral. Some minerals have very distinctive colors that help identify them. Although the color of a mineral can give away its identity, color is the least useful property for mineral identification.


Why do we use streak plates to test minerals?

They show you the true color of the mineral. Small impurities can cause big changes in the color of a mineral.


What are the most useful physical properties of minerals?

Some of the most useful physical properties of minerals include hardness (measured on the Mohs scale), cleavage and fracture (how a mineral breaks), color, streak (color of mineral powder), luster (appearance of a mineral's surface), and crystal habit (the shape in which a mineral naturally occurs). These properties help identify and classify minerals.


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.


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.


Is color a good way to identify a mineral?

yes


Which property is used to identify minerals uses the color of the mineral when it's broken up?

Streak is the property of a mineral that is determined by rubbing the mineral on a special plate to reveal the color of its powdered form. This can help identify minerals because a mineral's streak color is often different from its external color.


Least accurate way to identify a mineral?

the least accurate way to identify a mineral