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 Moh’s 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
SG =
density of a substance = X g/cm3 = X
density of water 1 g/cm3
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