MINERAL PROPERTIES

AND CLASSIFICATION
Rex Jobert D. Llaneta
 OBJECTIVES

A. Describe the physical properties commonly used to

identify minerals.
B. Identify minerals using a mineral identification key.
C. Visually identify some common rock-forming minerals.
D. List the uses of several economic minerals.
 MINERALS
are any naturally occurring inorganic solid that
possesses an orderly crystalline structure and can be
represented by a chemical formula.
 Use the geologic definition of a mineral to
determine which of the items listed in Figure 1.1 are

ACTIVITY 1 minerals and which are not minerals. Check the

appropriate box.
 The figure below contains images of some rocks and
minerals. Which of these appear to be rocks and which
are most likely minerals?
MINERAL PROPERTIES
- Are diagnostic properties (physical
and chemical properties) of minerals
used for identification.
 LUSTER
The appearance or quality of light reflected from
the surface of a mineral.

Metallic Luster

Minerals that have the

appearance of metals, regardless
of color.
 LUSTER
Nonmetallic Minerals that commonly show transparency or
Luster translucency.
COLOR and STREAK

COLOR

The quality of mineral with

respect to the absorption or
refraction of light of particular
wavelengths.

Color range
These specimens show only a few of the many colors
that can occur in fluorite. Different coloration depends
on a number of factors.
COLOR and STREAK

STREAK

The color of the powder

produced when a specimen is
drawn across a surface
such as unglazed porcelain
 HARDNESS
a measure of the resistance of a mineral to
abrasion or scratching.
- determined by rubbing a mineral of unknown hardness
against one of known hardness or vice versa.

- numerical value of hardness can be obtained by using the

Mohs scale of hardness, which consists of 10 minerals
arranged in order from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest)
MOH’S SCALE OF HARDNESS
CLEAVAGE AND FRACTURE
CLEAVAGE

The ability of a mineral to break

along flat, planar surfaces.

FRACTURE
The ability of a mineral to break
in a more or less random pattern
with no smooth planar surfaces
FRACTURE
CRYSTAL SHAPE OR HABIT
- refer to the common or characteristic
shape of individual crystals or
aggregates of crystals.
Commonly used terms to describe various
crystal habits:

- bladed (flat, elongated strips)

- fibrous (hairlike)
- tabular (tablet shaped)
- granular (aggregates of small crystals)
- blocky (square)
- banded (layered).
 SPECIFIC GRAVITY
- a number representing the ratio of a mineral’s weight to the
weight of an equal volume of water. Water has a specific
gravity of 1.
MINERAL CLASSIFICATION
Minerals are primarily classified according to their
chemical composition.
MINERAL GROUPS
MINERAL GROUPS
MINERAL GROUPS
MINERAL GROUPS
MINERAL GROUPS
 ECONOMIC
MINERALS

minerals that are

used extensively in
the manufacture of
products