MINERALS

• PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS

  • Luster
  • Hardness
  • Color and Streak
  • Crystal form and Habit
  • Cleavage and Fracture
  • Specific gravity
• Luster

  • The way surface reflects light
  • "looks shiny"
  • Classification: metalic, submetalic, nonmetalic

   
• Hardness

  A measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching or abrasion, measured on the Mohs scale (1-10)
• Crystal Form


  The internal arrangement of atoms in a mineral's crystal structure, which can be crystals, masses, or fibers
• Luster


  The way light reflects off a mineral's surface, including metallic, vitreous, earthy, resinous, and pearly
• Streak

  The color of the powder produced when a mineral is scratched or rubbed on a porcelain plate, helping identify minerals
• Streak Colors


  A list of common streak colors, including white, gray, yellow, red, and black, each indicating specific minerals