Describe the major mineral properties that can be used in

mineral identification

Minerals are defined as the element or chemical compound which formed naturally as a result

of geological processes. minerals are naturally formed a solid inorganic compound with fixed

chemical composition and having well defined internal atomic structure, there are some

physical properties from which we can identify minerals and rocks ("10 Steps to Help You
Identify Any Mineral", 2020).

1. Colour

The presence of a particular element can determine which wavelengths of light are

reflected and which are absorbed. Its unique for each mineral. It may be presence of

an element foreign to the crystal lattice.

2. Streak

It is the colour which a mineral displays when it has been ground to a fine powder. or

lines on their faces .Trace amounts of impurities do not tend to affect the streak of a

mineral thus this characteristic usually more predictable than color. it is color of

mineral powder.
3. Hardness

is defined as the level of difficulty with which a smooth surface of a mineral specimen

may be scratched. Unit Mohs scale.

4. Cleavage or Fracture

It is defined as the level of difficulty with which a smooth surface of a mineral

specimen may be scratched. Unit Mohs scale ("10 Steps to Help You Identify Any

Mineral", 2020).

5. Specific Gravity

it is weight of mineral when dipped first in air and then water.

6. Crystalline Structure

crystal form is pattern of growth of crystals of minerals.

7. Diaphaneity or Amount of Transparency

Colour of a mineral is not a very reliable property to identify minerals because the

color of a mineral may vary. Different samples of the same mineral may have

different colors and different minerals may also have the same color. And in same

meaning comes the transparent minerals that could be of specific catogary.

8. Tenacity

9. Magnetism
10. Luster

This characteristics provides a qualitative measure of the amount and quality of light

which is reflected from a mineral's exterior surfaces i.e how much 'sparkles' (Helfrich,

1966).

11. Odour

12. Taste
Rocks are composed of minerals and are formed by one or more minerals.

References
10 Steps to Help You Identify Any Mineral. (2020). Retrieved 29 April 2020, from
https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-identify-minerals-1440936
Helfrich, H. (1966). Identification of mineral grains. Geoexploration, 4(2), 107-
109. doi: 10.1016/0016-7142(66)90016-0