Survey of Mineral Properties
Name: _______________________________
COLOR
Some minerals have a characteristic color. Look at the numbered minerals below and complete the table.
Specimen
Mineral Name
Color
73
78
79
81
Other minerals can have a variety of colors. Look at the two varieties of hematite and the four varieties of
quartz. While color can be helpful, minerals can not often be identified based only on color.
Quartz Variety
Specimen
Mineral Name
74
75
Specular hematite
Oolitic hematite
Color
Color
Common
Rose
Purple (amethyst)
Smoky
LUSTER
The shine or lack of shine of a mineral is its luster. Look at the minerals and the key, and then complete
the table.
Metallic Luster
Type of Luster
Mineral Name
Specimen
27
34
Specimen
29
30
31
32
33
35
38
Metallic
Metallic
Non-Metallic Luster
Type of Luster
Mineral Name
Vitreous
Resinous
Greasy
Pearly
Silky
Shining
Dull
STREAK
Some minerals leave a powdery residue when drawn across porcelain. Use the streak plate and determine
the streak of the specimens below.
Specimen
12A
22A
7A
60A
Mineral Name
Streak
CRYSTAL SHAPE
Minerals crystals have characteristic shapes. Look at the specimens then complete the table.
Specimen
Mineral Name
Crystal Shape
100
103
108
110
111
Crystals that form in two directions at once are said to exhibit twinning. Look at the staurolite twinned
crystal.
Specimen
Mineral Name
Crystal form
109
Staurolite
Twinning
CLEAVAGE or FRACTURE
Cleavage is the tendency of a mineral to split or separate along a flat surface. Some minerals have one,
two, three and sometimes more directions of cleavage. Observe the samples and complete the table.
Specimen
Mineral Name
Cleavage Direction(s)
15
16
17
18
19
20
Fracture is when a mineral breaks with an irregular surface. Types of fracture include conchoidal (like a
chip in a glass window) splintery or hackly. Observe the samples and complete the table.
Specimen
1
2
3
4
5
6
Mineral Name
Fracture Classification
Conchoidal
Fibrous
Uneven
Hackly
Splintery
Earthy
ACID TEST
sample
number
name
90
calcite
fizz
--
quartz
none
mineral type
expected reaction
observations
BIREFRINGENCE (Double Refraction)
sample
number
name
91
calcite (iceland spar)
mineral type
expected
observations
double image
FLUORESCENCE
sample
number
name
expected color
1
aragonite
yellow-brown
2
hackmanite
orange
3
calcite
yellow
4
fluorite
blue
5
oil in shale
orange
6
calcite & willemite
dull green
7
tremolite
pink-orange
8
resinous coal
cream blue
9
wernerite
yellow
10
calcite
dull purple-red
room light color
UV light color
sample
number
name
1
talc
2
selenite
3
calcite
4
fluorite
5
apatite
6
microcline
7
quartz
8
topaz
9
corundum
sample
number
--
name
mineral type
HARDNESS
expected
hardness
scratched by (scratches)
mineral type
MAGNETISM
expected
response
Observation
magnetite
magnetic
other metallic ore
none
hardnes
number
Practice identifying minerals using these tests online at: http://facweb.bhc.edu/academics/science/harwoodr/geol101/Labs/Minerals/index.htm