SIFAT FISIK MINERAL

Pick Your Mineral

What youll learn

Describe physical properties used to
identify minerals.
Identify minerals using physical
properties such as hardness and streak.

Physical Properties
Mineral

appearance
Hardness
Luster
Specific gravity
Streak
Cleavage and fracture

Mineral appearance
How

it looks like
What color is it?
Which one of the following is gold? Identify
by appearance.

IDENTIFIKASI MINERAL
Warna
Cerat
Kilap
Belahan

dan Pecahan
Kekerasan
Bentuk Kristal
Sifat lain

Color
Idiochromatic

The color of the mineral

seldom varies, and is therefore diagnostic
Allochromatic Color varies due to
impurities, or viewing angle

Idiochromatic
Sulfur

Allochromatic
Tourmaline

(watermelon)

Warna

The many colors of Calcite

The many colors of Quartz

Streak (Cerat)

Streak adalah warna mineral ditumbuk

halus. Streak lebih dapat diandalkan
dibandingkan warna dan sangat penting
untuk beberapa mineral.

Black

- Graphite
Black - Pryite
Black - Magnetite
Black - Chalcopyrite
Gray - Galena
Limonite - Yellowbrown
Hematite - Red-brown

Streak Color
Color

obtained by rubbing a mineral across an

unglazed porcelain plate, known as a streak
plate
Streak plates are usually white, but may be
black
Color is due to a powder, with many crystals
oriented in random directions, and is much more
consistent than color in hand specimen

14

Streak Color Image

Varieties

of Hematite
Photos by Pamela
Gore

15

Streak Color Image

Quartz,

whether it is
smoky (left) or
amethyst (right),
always gives a white
streak
What is wrong with
this image?

16

academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/mineral_id...

Streak Example: Same

Mineral!

LUSTER (KILAP):
refleksi mineral dalam menangkap sinar:
ada dua yaitu metalik dan non-metalik

Non metalik: kilap kaca, tanah (earthy) dan tidak memantulkan sinar (dull)

Luster
Reflection

of light from a minerals surface

Observe on a freshly broken, untarnished
surface
Broad categories: metallic, semi-metallic
and non-metallic
Non-metallic, the most common, is split
into a number of sub-categories
20

Metallic Luster

Left - Gold, 3cm tall, California

Right - Copper, 10 cm across, Bolivia

21

Submetallic
Euxenite,

Wyoming,
2cm across

22

Non-metallic
Adamantine

Silky

Vitreous

Greasy

Subvitreous

Waxy

Resinous

Dull

or earthy

Pearly

23

Non-meallic: Adamantine
Diamond,

Zaire 1

cm.
Having the hard,
sparkly look of a
diamond

24

Non-metallic: Vitreous
Pollucite

3cm.

across

25

Non-metallic: Resinous
Sphalerite,

4 cm
across, Spain
Having the look of
amber not quite
glassy

26

Non-metallic: Pearly
Stellerite,

Pakistan, 2
cm across
Having the iridescent
look of mother-ofpearl (though usually
just barely)
Often found on the
cleavage face of a
mineral having
perfect cleavage
27

Non-metallic: Silky
Gypsum,

variety
satin spar, 10cm
across
Silky, having the
look of silk, fine
parallel fibers of
mineral such as
chrysotile "asbestos"
28

Non-metallic: Greasy or Oily

Nepheline

and
cancrinite (yellow) 2cm
across, Maine
Having the look of an
oil-coated substance

29

Non-metallic: Dull
Anglesite,

2 cm
across, Wisconsin
Having a plain
looking surface that
is not submetallic
Note: oxidized
metallic minerals are
called dull metallic
30

Non-metallic: Earthy
Kaolinite

after orthoclase,
England, 2cm across
Having the look of soil or
clay

31

Luster Modifers
Splendent
Shining
Dull

32

www.ironorchid.com/minerals/

LUSTER

Metallic Luster - Galena

Galena has the real metallic luster,
with every fresh face like a mirror.

Glassy or Vitreous Luster

- Quartz
Quartz sets the standard for
glassy (vitreous) luster,
especially in clear crystals
like these.

Adamantine Luster - Diamond

Diamond shows the definitive adamantine
luster (extremely shiny, even fiery), but
only on a clean crystal face or fracture
surface. This specimen has a luster better
described as greasy.

Metallic Luster - Gold

Gold has a metallic luster,
shiny on a clean face and dull
on a worn face like this
nugget.
Submetallic Luster
- Hematite
Hematite has a submetallic
luster in this specimen,
although it can also be dull.

Adamantine Luster - Ruby

Ruby and other varieties of
corundum can display an
adamantine luster owing to its high
index of refraction.

Cleavage (Belahan)
Cleavage is the way a mineral breaks. Many minerals
break along flat planes, or cleavagessome in only
one direction (like mica), others in two directions (like
feldspar), and some in three directions (like calcite) or
more (like fluorite). Some minerals, like quartz, have no
cleavage. Cleavage is a profound property that results
from a mineral's molecular structure, and cleavage is
present even when the mineral doesn't form good
crystals. Cleavage can also be described as perfect,
good or poor.

Mengikuti
bentuk
kristal

Cleavage Causes
In

some minerals, bonds between layers

of atoms aligned in certain directions are
weaker than bonds between different
layers
In other minerals, the number of bonds
per unit area (bond density) is low
In these cases, breakage occurs along
smooth, flat surfaces parallel to those
zones of weakness
36

Multiple Cleavage Directions

In

some minerals, a single direction of

weakness exists, but in others, two, three,
four, or as many as six may be present

37

Cleavage Angles
Where

more than one direction of

cleavage is present, it is important to
determine the angular relation between
the resulting cleavage surfaces: are they
perpendicular to each other (right angle),
or do they meet at an acute or obtuse
angle?

38

Cleavage
Illustration
Various

types of
cleavage
One directional
cleavage is
sometimes called
basal cleavage

39

Cleavage

Basal Cleavage
Cleavage

in biotite

mica

41

2-D@60
Amphibole

42

2-D@90
Orthoclase

43

3-D not @ 90
Calcite
Picture

also
illustrates double
refraction

44

American and British Systems

American

Perfect
Good
Fair
Poor

British

Eminent
Perfect
Distinct
Imperfect

45

Perfect
Mica

46

Good
Fluorite

4
directions

47

Fair

Augite,

a type of pyroxene

48

Poor

Apatite

49

Parting
Similar

to cleavage but not present in all

specimens
Usually due to a defect, such as twinning

50

Fracture (Pecahan)
Fracture is breakage that is not flat. The two main kinds of fracture are
conchoidal (shell-shaped, as in quartz) and uneven. Metallic minerals may
have a hackly (jagged) fracture. A mineral may have good cleavage in one or
two directions but fracture in another direction.

Yaitu bentuk permukaan antar

atom penyusun mineral saat
mineral pecah atau hancur
Pecahan:
beraturan (regular)
tidak beraturan (irregular)
Permukaan pecahan:
Kasar (splinterry)
Halus (smooth)
berbentuk kurva
(conchoidal): seperti gelas
saat pecah.

Fracture (Pecahan)

Fracture
Mineral

breakage other than along a

cleavage or parting plane
Several types

Conchoidal
Fibrous or splintery
Hackly
Uneven

53

Conchoidal
Quartz

54

Fibrous

55

Splintery

Actinolite,

a type of amphibole
56

Hackly

Native copper
57

www.ironorchid.com/minerals/

Kekerasan

Use the 10-point Mohs hardness scale. The important hardnesses are
between 2 and 7. For this you'll need your fingernail (hardness about 2),
a coin (hardness 3), a knife or nail (hardness 5.5)

Hardness
Hardness

may be measured in several

ways

Mohs scale developed by Austrian

mineralogist Friedrich Mohs in 1824
Absolute scales Brinell, Knoop, Rockwell,
Vickers

60

Practical Scale
Fingernail

2.2
Copper penny 3.2
Pocket knife 5.1
Glass 5.5
Steel file 6.5
Streak plate 7

61

Mohs Hardness Scale:

a relative scale used to determine the
minerals hardness

2.5

Fingernail

3.5

Penny

4.5

Iron Nail

5.5
6.5

Glass

Streak Plate

Mohs
Scale
Versus
Absolute
Hardness

63

Crystal Shape
(Bentuk Kristal)
Kubik
Prismatik
Tabular

(berlembar)
Menjarum
Hexagonal
Piritohedron

Crystal Habit

Habits are the distinctive form that minerals may take in different geologic
settings, for instance when growing in a free space or in a particular
environment. Often a mineral's habit is a strong clue to its identity. Here are
examples of some of the most useful mineral habits.

Amygdaloidal Habit
Amygdaloidal means
almond-shaped, but it
refers to the former gas
bubbles in lava called
amygdules, cavities
that have become filled
with various minerals.

Fibrous Habit
Rutile is typically
prismatic, but it can
form whiskers as in
this rutilated quartz.
Curved or bent
fibrous minerals are
called capillary or
filiform instead.

Dendritic Habit
Dendritic means "like
branches." It can refer to
flat crystals, like those of
manganese oxides, or
three-dimensional forms
like this specimen of
native copper.

Drusy Habit
Druses are openings
inside rocks that are
lined with projecting
crystals. Amethyst, cut
from geodes, is
commonly sold in rock
shops for its pretty drusy
habit.

Magnetism
Magnetism is a distinctive property in a few minerals. Magnetite is the prime example,
but a few other minerals may be weakly attracted by a magnet, notably chromite (a black
oxide) and pyrrhotite (a bronze sulfide). Use a strong magnet. Another way to test
magnetism is to see if the specimen attracts a compass needle.

Density ( Masa Jenis)

Massa

jenis merupakan perbandingan

massa terhadap volume zat. Secara
matematis ditulis :
p = m/v
Mass/volume

SI

units: kg/m3
Common units: g/cm3

67

Specific Gravity
Ratio

of the weight of the mineral, divided

by the weight of an equal volume of water
SG suatu zat dapat diperoleh dengan
membagi kerapatannya dengan 103
kg/m3 (kerapatan air pada suhu 4o C).
SG tidak memiliki satuan dan
dimensi.Dimensionless
68

Specific Gravity
The

specific gravity of a mineral is the

ration of its weight compared with the
weight of an equal volume of water.

Gold

has specific gravity of 19

means gold is 19 times heavier than

water.

It

19 times heavier

HOW TO CALCULATE THE specific gravity OF A

MINERAL

2) The amount of water displaced is 20ml = 20cc (920-900)

3) Divide 155.8g/20cc = 7.79 g/cc.
So, the SG of the mineral is 7.79g/cc.

SG Examples
Modifier

Mineral

SG

Light

Sulfur, graphite

1-2

Medium

Gypsum, Quartz 2-3

Medium Heavy

Fluorite, beryl

Heavy

Corundum, most 4-6

metal oxides

Extreme

Native gold,
platinum

3-4

19+
71

academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/lev
eson/core/linksa/mineral_id...

Specific gravity

Diaphaneity
The

transmission of light through a

mineral
Sometimes called transparency
Categories

Transparent
Translucent
Opaque

74

Transparent
Heulandite,

Moonen
Bay, Duirinish, Isle
of Skye

75

Translucent
Fluorite

76

Opaque

Almandine,

Mt. Lemmon, Arizona

77

Sifat Lain

Feel - Some minerals, notably talc and

graphite, feel greasy or slippery when you
rub your fingers over them. The
greasiness occurs because bonds are so
weak in one direction that your finger
pressure alone is enough to break them
and to slide planes of atoms past
neighboring atomic layers
Heft is how heavy a mineral feels in the
hand, an informal sense of density. Most
minerals are about three times as dense
as water, that is, they have a specific
gravity of about 3. Make note of a mineral
that is noticeably light or heavy for its
size. Galena, on the right, is distinctly
heavy. Sulfides and oxides tend to be
dense.

Taste - Geologists use as many

senses as possible in describing and
identifying minerals. Taste is one of the
last tests to be conducted, because
some minerals are poisonous. Some
minerals taste salty-most notably halite
(salt). Sylvite, a mineral similar in all
other properties to halite, tastes bitter.
Taste is thus a diagnostic property
because it distinguishes between
these minerals. NEVER TASTE A
MINERAL UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO!
Reaction with Dilute Hydrochloric
Acid - This is actually a chemical
property rather than a physical
attribute of a mineral. Minerals
containing the carbonate anion
(C03)2- effervesce ("fizz") when a drop
of dilute hydrochloric acid is placed on
them. Carbon dioxide is liberated from
the mineral and bubbles out through
the acid, creating the fizz. This test is
best performed on powdered minerals.
Calcite (calcium carbonate) will
effervesce readily in either massive or
powdered form, but dolomite (calciummagnesium carbonate) reacts best as
a powder.

academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/mineral_id...

Other Mineral Properties

SIFAT LAIN

80

Tenacity
Brittle
Ductile
Elastic
Flexible
Malleable

81

Iridescence

Left - Covellite develops a deep blue iridescence, 4cm

across, Montana
Right - Iridescent pyrite, 4cm across, Australia
82

Play of Colors
Labradorite,

20cm
wide, Madagascar,
Seaman Museum
specimen

83

Opalescence

Precious opal
cabochons (largest is
15mm), Australia
These are triplets,
formed with a dark
background layer, a
middle layer of precious
opal and a surface layer
of quartz to help protect
the softer opal from wear
and tear.
84

Source of Opalescence
Scanning

electron
micrograph of amorphous
silica spheres closest
packed in an Australian
fire opal showing red
interference colors
Sphere size is ~2500
ngstoms
Photo courtesy of HansUde Nissen
Cover of Reviews in
Mineralogy vol. 29 "Silica"
85

Fluorescenc
e

Upper - rare fluorescent mineral

Hardystonite
Lower - rare fluorescent mineral
esperite
Both from Franklin, New Jersey
86

Acid Reaction

When

acid is placed on the surface of certain minerals, carbon dioxide is

released, producing a fizz
The strength of the response should be noted
87

Taste
Must

be used carefully

Poisonous minerals
Diseases

Categories

Salty Halite
Bitter Sylvite

88

Odor
Smell

of a fresh specimen
Lab specimens are usually contaminated, so this
test is not usually used for lab specimens,
although streak plate odor may be diagnostic
Examples

Sulphurous (rotten egg) sulfur, pyrite, sphalerite

Earthy hematite, limonite

89

Magnetism
A few

minerals are strongly attracted to a

magnet
Examples

Magnetite
Pyrrhotite

A hand

magnet or the needle of a Brunton

compass may be used to test for
magnetism
90

Lodestone
Lodestone

is a
naturally magnetic
variety of magnetite
The iron filings cling
to the rock

91

Radioactivity
Some

minerals contain
radioactive elements
Placing the sample next to
the radiation meter will
produce an audible signal,
as well as a deflection of the
meter, if the sample is
emitting radioactivity
92

Mineral Collection Chart

Group Names: ______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

Mineral
Number

Luster
(M / NM)

Color

Streak

Hardness
Number

Cleavage
(Yes/No)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Adapted From : (Badders, 2003)

Mineral
Name

Mineral Identification Key

Adapted From : (Badders, 2003)
Luster
(M / NM)

Color

Streak

Hardness
Number

Cleavage
(Yes/No)

Mineral
Name

Silver, Gray

Gray

1-2

Yes (3)

GALENA

Brassy
Yellow

Greenish Black

6-9

No

PYRITE

NM

Light green, white,

gray

White

1-2

Yes (1)

TALC

NM

Colorless, White,
Pink

Colorless

6-9

No

QUARTZ

NM

Colorless, silvery,
black

Colorless

1-2

Yes (1)

MICA

NM

Yellow

White

1-2

Yes (3)

SULFUR

NM

Colorless
White

White

1-2

Yes (3)

HALITE

NM

Colorless,
White, yellow

White

Yes (3)

CALCITE

Gray-green

Greenish
Black

No

COPPER
SULFIDE

NM

White, pink, gray

White

6-9

Yes (2)

FELDSPAR