1. What are the characteristics that define a mineral?

a. They should be natural, inorganic, solid, with a crystalline structure, and with a
definite chemical composition.

b. Almost all minerals can be characterized and classified to their respective types by
their unique physical properties: hardness, luster, color, streak, specific gravity,
cleavage, fracture, and tenacity.

2. What is the difference between mineral streak and color? Why is streak more reliable as
a means of rock identification?

- A mineral’s color is rarely used for identifying its class and type. Many minerals can
be the same in color which can be confusing which is why using a mineral’s color
isn’t as reliable as testing it with its streak. Some minerals of the same color can
have a different streak. Some minerals are also the same appearance as other
metals which can also be confusing. For example:

One of the examples shown above is real gold and the other is the mineral pyrite
which is gold in color.

- A streak however is the color of a mineral’s powder.

 - Streak is more reliable because it does not vary between the same types and
classes of minerals.

3. Differentiate cleavage and fracture.

- Cleavage is a property of minerals that allows them to break smoothly along a

specific inner surface called the cleavage plane/surface when the mineral is struck
sharply with a hammer.
- Fracture is a property of minerals that breaks in a more or less random pattern
without a smooth, flat, and planar surface.
References:
Illinois State Geological Survey Prairie Research Institute. (n.d.). Illinois State Geological

Survey Using Characteristics of Minerals to Identify Them | ISGS. Retrieved November

24, 2021, from https://isgs.illinois.edu/outreach/geology-resources/using-characteristics-

minerals-identify-them#:%7E:text=Most%20minerals%20can%20be

%20characterized,cleavage%2C%20fracture%2C%20and%20tenacity.

Dinh, H. (2018, April 13). Five Characteristics of a Mineral. Sciencing. Retrieved November 24,

2021, from https://sciencing.com/five-characteristics-mineral-23695.html

Lumen Learning. (n.d.). Mineral Identification | Earth Science. Retrieved November 24, 2021,

from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/earthscience/chapter/mineral-identification/
Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry. (n.d.). Cleavage and Fracture.

Retrieved November 24, 2021, from

https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mgs/education/lessons/act21.pdf