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Minerals:

identification
Identification of Minerals

Questions
How can you identify minerals?
How do geologists identify
minerals?
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

1. Crystal form
2. Color
3. Streak
4. Luster
5. Cleavage
6. Fracture
7. Hardness
8. Tenacity
9. Specific gravity
10. Taste
11. Magnetism
12. Reaction with acid
13. Striations
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

1. Crystal form
Is a set of crystalline faces having a definite
geometric relationship to one another
Garnet

Quartz
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

2. Color
Is due to visible wavelengths of light not absorbed
Is the most obvious but least reliable property to use
for identification Milky quartz Citrine

Amethyst Smoky quartz


Colors of ruby and sapphire,
varieties of corundum (Al2O3) Colors of Varieties of Quartz
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
3. Streak
The color of a mineral in powder form

Figure 1.8
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
4. Luster
Is the intensity of light reflected from a surface

Pyrite

Potassium feldspar
Galena
Has a nonmetallic luster
Have a metallic luster
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
5. Cleavage
Is breakage along planes of weakness
Is due to weak bonding between those planes
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
Various Types of Cleavage
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

Pyramidal Cleavage Cubic Cleavage, and Rhombohedral Cleavage


Displayed by Fluorite, Halite, and Calcite

Halite
Fluorite Calcite
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
Distinguishing between Cleavage Planes and Crystal Faces

A crytal face:
Cleavage Planes: A single surface
Repeated like a series No repetitions of the
of step or terraces crystal face within
a crystal
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
6. Fracture
Is breakage in random directions
Is due to the absence of weak bonding between planes
Conchoidal fracture yields scalloped edges like in broken glass
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
7. Hardness
Is the resistance to scratching
Is based on the Mohs Scale
1 talc
2 gypsum
3 calcite
4 fluorite
5 apatite
6 potassium feldspar (orthoclase)
7 quartz
8 topaz
9 corundum
10 diamond
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals

Mohs
Hardness
Scale
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
8. Tenacity
resistance to breaking or bending
9. Specific gravity: an expression of heaviness
density of a substance X g/cm3
SG = = = X
density of water 1 g/cm 3
10. Taste
Halite (rock salt) tastes salty

11. Magnetism
magnetite attracts a magnet
Identifying Physical Properties of Minerals
12. Reaction with acid
minerals containing a CO3 ion fizz (release CO2) when
in contact with hydrochloric acid
2HCl + CaCO3 Ca2+ + 2Cl- + H2O + CO2

13. Reaction with acid Striations


Are saw-tooth lines present on crystal planes due to
lamellar twinning (repetition) of crystals on that plane
Striations are characteristic of plagioclase feldspar,
calcite, dolomite, galena, and sphalerite

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