Mineral Identification

What is a mineral identification chart?

A mineral identification chart is a type of data collection process that allows scientists to
document the characteristics and other aspects of certain minerals. These minerals are the
things that make up rocks, pebbles and ect. There are 6 different categories that are used to
classify minerals which include

●Possible colors

●Shape

●Luster

●cleavage/fracture

●Hardness

●streak

How is color of a mineral identified?

Mineral color is identified by the visual appearance of a mineral. Each Mineral may have
different variations of color and may appear different but have the same characteristics. Color is
used to vary the different minerals like for example if one mineral has the same hardness and
streak but had different colors, that would be the identification factor.

What is the shape of minerals?

Minerals can be identified by their shape as well, or more specifically their crystal shape. Most
crystals have unique properties that can be used to identify each variety. Crystals may be
hexagonal, cubic, triangular and other shape forms.

How is luster identified

Luster is one main factor that scientists can use to differentiate minerals. Luster is whether or
not a mineral can be classified as metallic or non metallic. This can most commonly be identified
by flashing the mineral in a light. If the mineral seems to shimmer in the light, it can be classified
as metallic but if it doesn’t , it can be classified as non metallic.

What is cleavage/fracture?

Cleavage and fracture go hand in hand because of the fact that they both represent the
breakage of any mineral. While some minerals may brea, others dont which can also lead to the
hardness aspect, but that’s another topic. Usually when someone is to test for cleavage or
fracture they can use a piece of metal or wood or any solid they may find, and hit the mineral to
see if it breaks or pieces fall off.

What is hardness of a mineral?

The hardness is the second most important/defining factor of the mineral identification table
because it resembles the hardness of a mineral with quantical data. The fact that it uses
quantical data is important because it is indisputable which means that it cannot be varied in any
way shape or form. The classification scale that is used to measure hardness is the Mohs Scale
which places diamond (the hardest mineral) at 10 and talc (the softest mineral) at 1. In order to
test the hardness of a mineral you must scratch the mineral you are testing on other elements
like glass which has a predetermined hardness, and that mineral is able to scratch it, it has a
higher hardness. For example, if glass has a hardness of 6 and steel has a hardness of 7 and you
scratch a mineral such as quartz on glass and it scratches it, but doesn’t scratch the steel, then
that mineral has a hardness of 6.5.

How is streak identified?

Streak is the most important identification factor of minerals. This is because a lot of minerals
can have the same color, shape, and luster, but the factor that determines whether or not they
are the same mineral could be streak. Streak is the color that the mineral leaves behind when
rubbed on a piece of paper. Each mineral regardless of color may give off a different streak. For
example pyrite (fool’s gold) is a mineral that is often confused with gold has the same color and
luster as gold, but the thing that people use to tell these two apart is their streak’s. Pyrite has a
black metallic streak, while gold has a golden grainy streak.