Mineral Identification Chart
Calcite
Fluorite
Hematitie
White
Vitreous
Transparent to opaque
3
Hexagonal – variety of shapes. Most
commonly rhombohedral &
scalenohedral
All colors: including colorless,
white, purple, blue, red, pink,
orange, yellow, brown, green,
gray, and black. May also be
multicolored and banded.
White
Vitreous
Transparent to translucent
4
Isometric – most commonly
octahedrals and cubic. Sometimes
dodecahedral.
Cleavage
1,3 – rhombohedral
1, all sides
Black, gray to silver gray,
brown to reddish brown, red.
Some are iridescent,
multicolored or banded gray
and dark red.
Red to reddish brown
Metallic to dull
Opaque
5-6
Hexagonal – thin plates,
bundles of small micaceous
plates & in thin splinters
None. Occasionally
rhombohedral & basal
parting
Fracture
Conchoidal. Rarely observed due to
perfect cleavage.
Conchoidal
Uneven
2.7
3.0 – 3.3
4.9 – 5.3
Effervescent
None
None
 Used as flux in the manufacture
of steel & other metals to
eliminate impurities.
 In optics field to produce lenses.
 In the production of glass &
enamel.
 Carved ornamental objects.
 Too soft to be used as a
gemstone.
 Principle ore of iron.
 Used in industrial
production. Source for
roughly 90% of all iron
mined in US.
 Used in past as red & brown
pigment.
 Used as minor gemstone –
jewelry, beads &
ornamental figures.
Name
Color
Streak
Luster
Transparency
Hardness
Crystal Form
Specific
Gravity
Reaction to
Hydrochloric
Acid
Uses
Colorless, white, yellow, brown,
orange, pink, red, purple, blue,
green, gray, black. May also be
multicolored or banded.
 Primary ore of Calcium. Indispensable in
construction industry, it is the base of
cement.
 Forms many important chemicals and
useful drugs.
 Crucial in the manufacture of fertilizers,
metals, glass, rubber & paint.
 Transparent Iceland Spar was used for
polarizing microscopes & other optical
devices.
 Forms rocks that are ornamental such as
Marble, Travertine, or Tufa.
 Main component of chalk.
Environment
(Location)
Part of all mineral environments,
including sedimentary, igneous &
metamorphic
Hydrothermal ore veins,
Sedimentary deposits,
Metamorphic environments &
pegmatite dikes
Part of all mineral
environments, including
sedimentary, igneous &
metamorphic
Notes
Commonly fluorescent. Some
phosphorescent.
Transparent crystals exhibit strong
refraction.
May be thermoluminescent.
Commonly fluorescent
Common mineral.
Paramagnetic – slightly
attracted to magnetic fields.
Strongly magnetic when
heated.
Quartz – Much harder (7)
Gypsum – Softer (2)
Calcite – Slightly softer (3),
different crystal forms
Quartz – Much harder (7), no
cleavage
Halite – Softer (2 – 2 ½), salty
None
Similar
Minerals
Mineral Identification Chart
Biotite – Mica
Muscovite – Mica
Talc
Name
Color
Black, dark brown, dark green,
reddish black.
Streak
Luster
Transparency
Hardness
White
Pearly
Translucent to opaque
2.5 – 3
Colorless, white, beige,
yellow, brown, gray, green,
pink, purple, red, black;
occasionally multicolored
Colorless
Pearly
Transparent to translucent
2–2½
Crystal Form
Monoclinic – Thick flakes
Monoclinic – thick flakes
Cleavage
Fracture
Specific Gravity
Reaction to
Hydrochloric
Acid
1,1
Uneven
2.8 – 3.4
1, 1
Uneven
2.7 – 3.0
None
None
None
 Poor conductor of heat & electricity
and used as an insulator for
electrical products &
semiconductors.
 Poor conductor of heat &
electricity and used as an
insulator for electrical products &
semiconductors.
 Large sheets once used for oven
windows.
 Industrial uses.
 Crushed into a powder to form
talcum powder. Main ingredient
in cosmetics and some baby
powders.
 Once used as a filler to prevent
slipping in latex gloves.
 Highly resistant to heat &
electricity – used as an insulator
in electronics.
 Filler material for paints, rubber
& insecticides.
 Ornamental stone, carved into
figures, jewelry boxes, tiling & art
sculptures.
Uses
White, beige, gray, yellow,
brown, pink, purple, blue,
green. Rarely colorless.
White
Greasy, waxy, pearly
Transparent to opaque
1
Monoclinic – Most often large
distorted masses and foliated
sheets and plates.
1,1
Uneven
Environment
(Location)
Common rock forming mineral;
especially in metamorphic
rocks such as schist & gneiss.
Also in igneous rocks such as
granite & rhyolite.
Common rock forming
mineral. Especially found in
granite pegmatites,
metamorphic rocks,
metamorphic schists, &
hydrothermal veins.
In metamorphic rocks,
especially Serpentine
deposits.
Most commonly forms the
rock Soapstone.
Notes
Small pieces flake or peel off
Small pieces flake or peel off
Has a greasy feel.
May be lightly fluorescent.
Muscovite – Usually lighter in
color
Biotite – Usually darker in
color
Lepidolite – difficult to tell
from pink muscovite
Gypsum – Cannot be peeled
into micaceous sheets,
crystals usually different
shapes
Calcite
Similar Minerals
Mineral Identification Chart
Name
Color
Streak
Luster
Transparency
Hardness
Crystal Form
Cleavage
Fracture
Specific Gravity
Reaction to
Hydrochloric
Acid
Uses
Environment
(Location)
Notes
Similar Minerals