Laboratory Manual for Physical Geology

Mineral Identification
Overview ............................................................................................................... 2
Materials Needed .................................................................................................. 2
Scientific Definition of Minerals ............................................................................. 2
Physical Properties of Minerals ............................................................................. 5
Identification Process .......................................................................................... 13
Steps to Identify Minerals .................................................................................... 14
Lab Materials ...................................................................................................... 17
Tips ..................................................................................................................... 19
Exercises ............................................................................................................ 23
Mineral Decision Tree
Mineral Identification Charts
Demonstration Mineral Data Sheet
Mineral Data Sheet

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OVERVIEW

Why study minerals? The physical properties and chemical composition of some
mineral grains retain hints of their origins despite many generations of rock
recycling. These clues about mineral formation lead to a better understanding of
Earth's history, structure, and processes.
Investigating the composition and properties of minerals is the main focus of this
lab. You will see why minerals have unique physical properties and how you can
use these properties to identify mineral specimens.

MATERIALS NEEDED

Printouts from lab manual

o Mineral Decision Tree
o Mineral Charts A–F
o Demonstration Mineral Data Sheet
o Mineral Data Sheet
Items from lab kit
o Mineral specimens #1–21
o Glass plate
o Streak plate
o Nail
o Penny
o Magnet
o Hand lens
o White vinegar in dropper bottle
Metal spoon
Pencil and eraser

SCIENTIFIC DEFINITION OF MINERALS

Somewhat different than the common perception of the word ―mineral,‖ the
scientific definition states that a mineral is a naturally occurring, homogeneous,
inorganic solid which has both a regular crystal structure and a definite
composition.

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Naturally Occurring
A mineral forms by natural Earth processes. Man has created many solid,
homogeneous, crystalline materials that do not exist in nature, such as silicon
chips and cement. Although made from minerals, these resulting materials are not
classified as minerals because they are man-made. Man has also created
synthetic diamonds, sapphires, and quartz crystals, which are in most ways
identical to natural gemstones, but these are not considered to be minerals either.

Homogeneous
A homogeneous material is a single substance that cannot be physically
separated into simpler substances. No matter how large the mineral grain, or
how small it is divided, its composition and structure are the same.

Solid
Although water (H2O) is not a mineral, glacial ice, with the same chemical
formula, is considered a mineral. Elemental mercury, which occurs in nature, is
not considered a mineral because it is a liquid at normal room temperature.

Inorganic
Traditionally, minerals are not biological in origin. Organic compounds are
products of biologic activity and contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
Some organic compounds, such as sugar, can occur naturally as crystalline,
homogeneous solids, but they are not minerals. Coal and amber (fossilized tree
remains) are also not minerals; both are non-crystalline, organic compounds.
However, some materials made by animals and plants are considered minerals.
For example, animals build bones and teeth from phosphate minerals and
external shells from dissolved carbonate minerals. Many types of algae also
create external ―shells‖ from dissolved carbonate minerals. Micro-organisms can
cause the precipitation of calcite in sea water outside of their cell walls by altering
the water chemistry, and bacteria are responsible for the formation of pyrite in
organic-rich mud. These materials, although formed by organisms, are not
organic compounds; they are identical to minerals not formed by biologic activity,
so they are included with minerals.

Regular Crystal Structure

The atoms in minerals are arranged in a regular, orderly, three-dimensional
pattern called a crystalline structure. The pattern is formed by small building
blocks, called unit cells, which are stacked together repetitively like Lego blocks
to form the larger structure. The unit cell contains all the elements that comprise
the mineral, held together by chemical bonds. Each mineral has its own unit cell,
with unique dimensions and angles. The regular external shape of a crystal
reflects the orderly stacking of these unit cells, although many different external

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crystal shapes can be made by the same unit cell (just as square Lego blocks
can be stacked to make a pyramid shape).

Definite Chemical Composition

A mineral has a well-defined chemical composition that can be expressed as a
chemical formula. Many minerals such as quartz (SiO2) or halite (NaCl) have
very specific compositions. Small amounts of other elements, called trace
elements, can be incorporated into these minerals without altering the crystal
structure and physical properties, although these impurities can cause the
mineral to have different colors.
Other minerals have a range of compositions. In olivine, iron can substitute for
magnesium in the crystal lattice. The formula for olivine in general is given as
(Mg,Fe)2(SiO4), with substitution indicated by the magnesium and iron symbols
surrounded by parentheses and separated by a comma. In the case of olivine,
iron and magnesium can substitute for each other completely, so that olivine can
vary from pure Mg2 (SiO4), called forsterite, to Fe2(SiO4), called fayalite. The
crystal structure is the same, but the density of olivine increases with increasing
iron content.
Other minerals allow only limited substitution. For example, sphalerite is usually
shown with a formula of ZnS, but iron can substitute for up to 50% of the zinc.
The crystal structure and most of the physical properties are the same, so all
varieties are called sphalerite, but zinc-rich specimens tend to be lighter in color
with a resinous luster, while iron-rich specimens are darker, even black, with a
submetallic luster.
Some minerals allow much more complex substitution, such as augite,
(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)(Si,Al)2O6. In this complex silicate, sodium and calcium can
substitute for each other; magnesium, iron, and aluminum can substitute for each
other; and a limited amount of aluminum can also substitute for silicon.

Some minerals contain only one element. Examples of these minerals, called
native elements, include sulfur (S), graphite (C), diamond (C), gold (Au), and
copper (Cu). Notice that graphite, commonly seen in pencil lead, and diamonds
have the same chemical formula. Minerals with the same chemical formula but
different crystal structures are called polymorphs. These minerals have different
types of chemical bonds and, thus, different crystal forms.
If a substance fails any part of this definition, it is not a mineral. For example,
table sugar, an organic compound formed by biological plant activity, fits all
facets of the definition except the inorganic part.
Some naturally occurring, homogenous solids do not have a crystal structure and
are called mineraloids. One example is opal, which has a chemical composition
of SiO2, but it does not have a crystalline structure. Amber and jet (hard, black
fossil wood) are other examples of these ―almost minerals.‖

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PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS

The mineral identification process begins with learning about mineral

characteristics: which ones to look for, what their definitions are, and which ones
are most useful in the identification process.
Consistency in chemistry and crystal structure causes a mineral to have
consistent physical properties. Physical properties observed from minerals are:
Color
Luster
Hardness
Cleavage/fracture
Streak
Specific gravity
Miscellaneous properties

Color
Although probably the most obvious feature, color is the least diagnostic physical
property of most minerals. Color should be recorded, but it should never be used
until the end of the identification process. Even then, for most minerals, it is not
as important as other properties. For example, although green is a very common
color of chlorite specimens, all green specimens are NOT chlorite. Other
minerals that can be green include quartz, calcite, augite (pyroxene), hornblende
(amphibole), olivine, talc, serpentine, epidote, apatite, and garnet. There are
even green feldspars! So record colors that you see, but reserve judgment until
you gather all the data and work through the analysis.

Luster
Luster is a much more important characteristic than color. Luster describes how
light is absorbed or reflected by a mineral surface, which affects the mineral’s
appearance.
The two major categories of luster are metallic and nonmetallic. Simply stated,
metallic luster is the appearance of a metal, such as steel, chrome, aluminum, or
gold. Nonmetallic luster has several varieties—glassy (also called vitreous),
waxy, resinous, dull, or earthy. Metals are opaque and highly reflective and can
be either shiny or dull. Having good light as you make these observations is
essential.
In addition to describing how a mineral surface reflects light, some mineral charts
include terms that describe transparency, the amount of light that passes through
a mineral. Transparency is not usually diagnostic of a mineral’s identity, but it can
help eliminate possibilities. Transparent minerals allow most light to pass
through; translucent minerals partially allow light to pass through; and opaque
minerals do not let any light through. A mineral type can exhibit more than one
level of transparency; most transparent minerals also occur in translucent forms.

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Hardness
Hardness, the resistance of a smooth surface of a mineral to scratching, is a
particularly useful physical property in mineral identification. Mohs hardness
scale assigns a numerical value of one to ten for ten common minerals. The
hardness of an unknown mineral is determined by testing its hardness against
known minerals.

Table 3.1 Mohs Scale

In practical usage, it is not usually necessary to determine the exact Mohs

hardness to identify a mineral. The most common approach is to compare the
mineral in question to two reference materials, typically glass (about 5½ on the
Mohs scale) and a human fingernail (about 2½ on the Mohs scale). This, in
effect, places the mineral into one of three categories:
softer than a fingernail (<2.5)
between the hardness of glass and a fingernail (>2.5 and <5.5)
harder than glass (>5.5)

Cleavage and Fracture

Cleavage and fracture describe how a mineral breaks apart. Fracture is an
irregular break that does not produce a planar (flat) surface. Although irregular, a
fracture surface can have a distinctive appearance. In chrysotile, for example,
broken fragments look like splinters while broken surfaces in obsidian may have

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a conchoidal fracture in which one or more surfaces are smooth and curved
like the interior of a seashell.

Chrysotile Obsidian
Broken fragments may look like splinters. Broken surface may have a conchoidal fracture
with one or more smooth, curved surfaces.
Figure 3.1 Types of fracture Chrysotile photo by Eurico Zimbres, Creative Commons License, 2.5

Light reflects differently from fracture and cleavage surfaces. On a fracture

surface, light rays coming from one direction are scattered in different directions
so the surface looks dull. On the other hand, cleavage produces a planar (flat)
broken surface. Light rays coming from one direction are all reflected in the same
direction from a cleavage surface. Consequently, the cleavage surface looks
shiny, like a mirror, and gives a '’flash‖ when turned if it catches the light in just
the right direction. Sometimes perfect cleavage can be so mirror-flat that it looks
like the mineral specimen has been sawn in two. To determine whether a
surface is a cleavage surface, look at parallel surfaces of the mineral specimen
under a bright light. As the specimen is rotated 180 degrees to its opposite side,
a vivid flash of reflected light reveals a smooth surface that is often a cleavage
surface. A stair step surface is really made of flat, parallel surfaces that also
reflect light in the same direction and flash when rotated. Not all cleavages are
perfect; the lesser conditions are described with words like ―good,‖ ―fair,‖ or
―poor.‖

Figure 3.2 Light reflections on cleavage and fracture surfaces.

http://pasadena.wr.usgs.gov/office/given/geo1/pdfs/GEO1_L6INTROMIN.pdf

Cleavage develops because weaker chemical bonds within the building block
structure are aligned along a plane, causing the structure to be easily broken in
that direction.

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Because cleavage is caused by a certain arrangement of weak bonds in a
particular crystalline structure, it can be very characteristic of certain minerals
and useful for identification. Minerals can have multiple directions of cleavage,
depending upon their crystal structure, and some cleavages can be more perfect
than others. Common combinations of cleavage direction are described below.
It is important to understand that two parallel cleaved surfaces represent one
cleavage direction. Since minerals are 3-dimensional solids, they can have more
than one surface which is broken along the same planar direction.

Table 3.2 Cleavage Possibilities

Number Angles
of between Shapes of broken
Illustration Illustration
cleavage cleavage crystal
directions directions

1 180 Tabular

Rectangular
2 90
prism

Not at Non rectangular

2
90 prism

3 90 Cubes

Not at
3 Rhombohedrons
90

Octahedrons
4 Varied
(8 sided)

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 Dodecahedrons
6 Varied
(12 sided)

Table 3.2 Cleavage Possibilities

The size of individual mineral crystals determines what you can observe about a
mineral’s cleavage. Masses of crystals do not produce cleavage as one large flat
cleavage surface per side of a specimen. Instead the cleavage surface often
appears as an irregularly broken surface with many small flat ―sparkles‖ as you
move the specimen slowly from side to side. Only large single crystal specimens
can produce naturally ―flat‖ surfaces that completely cover one whole side of a
specimen. Earthy masses of microscopic crystals do not show cleavage at all. If
microscopic mineral crystals with good cleavage are aligned, as in some
metamorphic rocks, the cleavage can cause the rock to break into flat, smooth
pieces.
Plagioclase feldspar has two cleavages at right angles. Thin, perfectly straight
lines can often be seen on ONE of these cleavage faces (magnification is often
helpful to see this). These lines may appear like the lines on a phonograph record.
When turned so the cleavage surface reflects light, the lines form tiny stripes. One
set of stripes reflects light and when the specimen is turned very slightly, the
alternate set of stripes reflect light. These are called striations, and if present, the
specimen MUST be plagioclase.
Unfortunately, not all plagioclase specimens
have striations. The striations are sometimes
extremely tiny and hard to see and they only
occur on one of the cleavage faces. It is
important to distinguish these from striations
on crystal faces, such as on quartz crystals,
that are slight deflections in a crystal face
caused by changing conditions during crystal
growth. Striations can be felt with a fingernail
while plagioclase striations on cleavage
surfaces cannot be felt.
Figure 3.3 Striations on plagioclase feldspar.

Streak
Streak is the color of a powdered mineral and is considered to be the true color
of a mineral. Different specimens of a mineral may have different colors, but the
powdered streak is constant. Dolomite, for example, can be virtually any color
imaginable; however, the streak of dolomite is always white.

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Streak is most useful as a diagnostic feature for minerals with metallic luster.
Most minerals with nonmetallic luster have a white streak. If you are unsure as to
the luster of dark-colored minerals, a white streak is a strong indication that you
should explore the nonmetallic possibilities first.
The test for streak is conducted by dragging an edge of the mineral specimen
across an unglazed porcelain tile called a streak plate. Minerals powder if their
hardness is less than that of the streak plate, which has a hardness of about 7. If
a mineral is harder than the streak plate, the mineral scratches the streak plate
and you see what appears to be a white streak composed of powdered streak
plate. Minerals that are harder than the streak plate are listed on your
identification charts with a white streak to help prevent confusion, although their
streak is sometimes described as ―none.‖

Specific Gravity
Specific gravity is the relative density of a mineral compared with water. Since it
is a relative measure, it has no units. If a mineral has a density equal to water (1
gram/cc), its specific gravity (SG) is 1. A mineral with a SG = 2.65 is 2.65 times
denser than water (2.65 gm/cc). For this course, the specific gravity does not
need to be precisely measured. Instead, by hefting the unknown specimen, and
comparing it to a known mineral, the approximate specific gravity can be
estimated as light, medium, or heavy. This is most easily performed with one
specimen in each hand. Be careful to choose specimens of about the same size,
and try to mentally adjust if the sizes are different.

Miscellaneous Properties
Some miscellaneous or special properties are unique to one or only a few
minerals. These properties include magnetism, reaction with acid, salty taste,
unique odors, and odd light-bending features such as double refraction. The
uniqueness of miscellaneous properties makes them particularly useful in the
identification process.

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 Table 3.3 Miscellaneous Properties
Properties Mineral Name
Salty taste ................................................................................................................ halite
Magnetic ........................................................................................................... magnetite
Effervesces in cold, dilute HCl on unpowdered surface ........................................... calcite
Effervesces in cold, dilute HCl, but only when powdered ..................................... dolomite
Earthy, ―fresh-dirt‖ odor when moist .................................................................... kaolinite
Double refraction ..................................................................................................... calcite
Piezoelectric effect .................................................................................................. quartz
Burnt match smell .................................................................................................... sulfur
Burnt match smell when scratched .......................................................... sphalerite, sulfur
Greasy or soapy feel when rubbed ................................................................ talc, graphite
Thin cleavage fragments are elastic/flexible ...........................................biotite, muscovite
Easily writes on paper .......................................................................................... graphite
Iridescent play of colors – blue, green or yellow .............................................. plagioclase
Perfectly straight striations on cleavage faces ................................................. plagioclase

Table 3.3 Miscellaneous Properties

Mineral Crystals
By definition, minerals have a regular crystal structure, in other words, atoms in
minerals are arranged in regular geometrical patterns. The crystal shape is the
external expression of the mineral's regular internal atomic structure.
However, mineral crystals typically grow in crowded conditions, causing adjacent
crystals to interfere with the growth of neighboring crystals. This results in a
network of interlocking crystals that do not exhibit external crystal faces. Most
specimens you will analyze in your lab kit do not exhibit their crystal forms
because they are small pieces, often cleavage fragments, of larger crystals.
Crystal forms you may see in textbooks, websites, or museums are summarized
in Table 3.4.

Table 3.4 Crystal Shapes and Minerals

Cube – diamond,
Dodecahedron - Hexagonal prism - Hexagonal pyramid –
fluorite, galena, halite,
garnet corundum apatite, quartz
pyrite

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 Octahedron – Prismatic crystals –
Rhombohedron –
diamond, gold, azurite, gypsum, Pyritohedron - pyrite
calcite, dolomite
magnetite orthoclase

Scalenohedron - Tabular crystals – Tetrahedron - Trapezohedron -

calcite augite, barite chalcopyrite garnet
Table 3.4 Crystal Shapes and Minerals

Twinning occurs when two different crystals of the same mineral occupy some
of the same space. Part of the ―body‖ of each crystal is shared with the other,
giving the appearance of being intertwined. Crystals often grow in clusters or
radiating groups, but these are not necessarily twins. With true twins, the crystals
have an exact angle where they join.

Figure 3.4 Examples of twinning of staurolite. Note that staurolite twins meet at either 60 or 90 degree angles.

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Crystal Habit
Because of their unique internal crystal structure, some minerals tend to occur in
certain distinctive crystal shapes, as shown in the chart in the previous section.
In addition, some minerals tend to occur in distinctive aggregates of crystals or
with peculiar crystal modifications.

Table 3.5 Crystal Habit

Habit Mineral
Pea-sized concretions (round, concentric bodies) .......................... bauxite, calcite
Sharp pointed (―dog-tooth‖) crystals.............................................................. calcite
Concentric bands of different colors, sometimes filling a geode ........... chalcedony
Six-sided prisms expanded to bulging barrel shape................................ corundum
―Ball-shaped‖ crystals of 12 (or even more) faces......................................... garnet
Small spheres or egg shapes resembling fish eggs ...................... hematite, calcite
Radiating clusters of crystals forming rounded masses ...........................malachite
Striations from twinning visible on one cleavage face ........................... plagioclase
Six-sided prisms with growth striations across the crystal faces ................... quartz
Twinned crystals forming crosses ............................................................ staurolite

Differentiating augite from hornblende, both black minerals common in igneous

rocks, can be difficult when the crystals are small, but crystal habit can be used
to distinguish them:
Blocky, squarish crystals ............................................................................... augite
Elongated to needle-like crystals .......................................................... hornblende

Table 3.5 Crystal Habit

IDENTIFICATION PROCESS

In the mineral identification process, you will make observations, collect and
record data, and analyze the data collected to determine the true identity of
minerals. As you examine the minerals, be sure to record your observations
along with the information gained from tests performed and all other details for
each specimen on the data sheets included in the lab manual. Writing in pencil
with an eraser available is advised.
As you prepare to identify lab kit specimens, you are encouraged to watch the
videos. Since you will be writing down information during each segment, you will
need to print the ―Demonstration Mineral Data Sheet‖ and the ―Mineral Data
Sheet‖ prior to viewing. Some information covered in the lab videos is also
presented in this portion of the lab manual so you have another resource to
become familiar with the material if you want it.

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Having the decision tree, mineral charts, your notes, and reference materials
such as the mineral chapters of your lab manual and textbook on hand will help
you work through the process. The cleavage possibilities (Table 3.2), the
miscellaneous properties (Table 3.3), and the crystal shapes and minerals
diagram (Table 3.4) are also very helpful references.
Accurately assessing the physical properties of each mineral specimen is very
important. At first it may be difficult to determine which characteristics or
properties of the mineral specimen are important, but if you write down
everything you observe on your data sheets, the decision tree will help you sort
through the details. The tree will lead you to the important information as you
work through it, once your data is recorded.
A decision tree is an organized series of ―yes or no‖ questions that eliminate
many choices as you work through a careful, methodical analysis, similar to the
approach biologists use to identify plants. Your answer to each step eliminates
many choices, thus narrowing the likely possibilities to a small group. When you
arrive at the end of the process, you will be directed to the group of minerals that
remain. By comparing your careful observations to the detailed descriptions on
the mineral charts, you can eliminate the wrong answers one by one and arrive
at the correct mineral name.
Students often make two common mistakes as they begin identifying minerals.
The first mistake is trying to match mineral specimens to a color picture often
found in a textbook or on the Internet, and mostly skipping the tests for physical
properties. The picture-matching guesswork and focusing on the appearance of a
particular specimen can be unreliable; the same mineral can have many different
appearances. The second common mistake is to decide that color is the most
important feature of a mineral. For example, because clear, colorless quartz
crystals are relatively common and often appear in photographs and lab kits,
students often conclude that a clear, colorless mineral is always quartz.
However, almost half of the mineral specimens in your lab kit could be clear and
colorless, and quartz can, in fact, be any color. Another common misconception
is that all green minerals are olivine; it is possible that half of the minerals in your
kit could be green.

STEPS TO IDENTIFY MINERALS

Using the Decision Tree

Follow each step on the Decision Tree to narrow the possible minerals to a small
group.

1. Determine the luster of the mineral. Does the specimen appear to be metallic
or nonmetallic? As light reflects off the surface of the specimen, how does it
appear? What does the surface of this mineral most resemble: something
metallic or something other than a metal? For most specimens, this is fairly

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 straightforward. If the specimen is nonmetallic, decide if it is also dull,
resinous, earthy, or glassy (vitreous). Record that information on your data
sheet to help you later in the process.

2. Determine the hardness of the specimen. Does it scratch glass? If not, can
you scratch it with your fingernail? (If unable to use your natural fingernails to
do a scratch test, use a penny to get similar information.) Be sure to place the
glass on your work surface and press the mineral specimen firmly into the
glass as you drag it across the glass surface. Brush any mineral grains away
with your finger and closely inspect the glass surface for a groove where the
scratch test was executed. When the scratches are very shallow, it is
sometimes difficult to see them, so give your fingernail a chance to fall into
the scratch to help you detect the minor indention on the glass surface.

3. How does the mineral break? Does it cleave or does it fracture? If it cleaves,
in how many directions is there cleavage for the same mineral crystal? When
the specimen has more than one cleavage direction, it is important to note the
number of directions and the angles between these different cleavage planes.
By answering these questions in the Decision Tree, you will be directed to a
chart of detailed mineral descriptions.

Using the Mineral Charts

Now that you have narrowed your choices to a chart of detailed mineral
descriptions, use all other properties: streak, specific gravity, special types of
luster (especially for nonmetallic varieties), and miscellaneous properties. The
question to ask is, ―Does this specimen have any of these special
characteristics?‖ If color is going to be helpful at all, it is at this last step that it will
be applied. Color can be used to rule out impossible mineral choices.

Thinking is particularly important at this stage of the process. Take each

possibility and carefully compare its characteristics to your data sheet. Use the
process of elimination to rule out unlikely possibilities and look for diagnostic
properties. You will most likely determine a list of two or three potential minerals
fairly quickly. Check other properties to confirm or contradict your hypothesis.
The more matching properties you use, the more confidence you can place in
your identification.

It is extremely important to carefully record your observations as you investigate

the properties of your mineral specimens. This is an important aspect of scientific
work. Practicing scientists keep careful and copious notes of their work. One
simply cannot depend on memory to pull up every detail during the decision tree
phase of the investigation. Filling out a data sheet forces an observer to carefully
consider and test each observation. It also prevents jumping to an incorrect
conclusion.

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What happens if you get a wrong answer? It means you made an error in the
process. This can happen in ―real science‖ investigations too. Go back and
recheck your data and retrace your steps on the decision tree. If you are stuck,
leave that specimen until later and then take a fresh look at it. You might even
want to start from ―scratch‖ with a fresh data sheet and re-record your data.
Identifying other specimens and then returning to the problematic ones may help.
Again, practice and persistence pay off.

Examples

The following examples illustrate how to utilize mineral charts in determining a

mineral’s identity.

1. Example A
Looking at your data sheet, suppose the decision tree has taken you to
Mineral Identification Chart C to identify a specimen. This means you have
identified a non-metallic luster, the specimen does not scratch glass, and it
has cleavage, even though you are not sure how many directions. Looking at
your data sheet, you see you were not able to scratch the specimen with your
fingernail. You may need to test the specimen again – feel free to do that as
needed. This means you have just ruled out the first four choices on Chart C.
The next two choices are biotite and muscovite. You re-examine your
specimen and see that it does not break into thin, flexible, elastic sheets; this
means it is neither of those two choices. Looking again at Chart C, you see
calcite, so you powder a ―crumb‖ and test the powder with vinegar. Nothing
happens, so it is not calcite. Now you see that your specimen is white and
you notice that sphalerite cannot be white, so it is not sphalerite. This leaves
barite, anhydrite, dolomite and fluorite. Looking through the characteristics of
these four, you realize that barite is considerably dense or heavy for its size.
You heft your specimen again, comparing it to several other white ones and
realize this specimen is heavy for its size. You can now eliminate the three
less dense minerals and name your specimen as the one with the significantly
higher density – barite.

2. Example B
Let’s say the specimen has metallic luster and scratches glass. This leads
you to Mineral Identification Chart E. You notice the specific gravity is about
the same for all three mineral possibilities, and your specimen is heavy for its
size. None of the choices have cleavage and your specimen does not show
any either. Your specimen is neither brassy/gold-colored nor black, but it is
gray. You suspect hematite, but since color is not usually diagnostic, you
keep looking at Chart E for more clues. Now you notice that the streak color is
very different for these three minerals. Your specimen has a streak that is
brick-red. The only possibility for that streak color is hematite.

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 Distinguishing Minerals with Similar Appearances

Minerals often have similar appearances and are often confused with each
other, yet can be distinguished by certain characteristics. Study the mineral
identification charts to discover the distinguishing characteristics (diagnostic
properties) for the following minerals:
pyrite and chalcopyrite
galena and graphite
halite and calcite
magnetite and hematite
muscovite and biotite
gypsum and muscovite
quartz and topaz
hematite and goethite
olivine, epidote, chlorite and apatite (all commonly green)
talc, gypsum and kaolinite
orthoclase and plagioclase
augite and hornblende
calcite and dolomite

LAB MATERIALS

Glass plates are ordinary window glass, produced by melting quartz sand with
sodium or calcium carbonate and then cooling the material quickly so it cannot
form crystals. Ordinary window glass has a hardness of 5.5. (Note that lead
crystal and laboratory glassware can be harder or softer.) If your glass plate
becomes so scratched that you cannot distinguish a new scratch from all the old
ones, you may use a piece of ordinary window glass, but be careful of sharp
broken edges.

Essential Safety Tip

When doing a scratch test, be sure to place the glass plate on a table. Do
NOT attempt a scratch test with the glass plate in your hand! When
performing a scratch test, there is always a chance the glass may break, so
be sure it breaks on the work surface and not in your hand. You may want to
put several layers of newspaper or an old towel on your work surface to catch
rock fragments and to prevent damage to the table if the plate slides or
breaks.

Streak plates are unglazed porcelain tiles. With repeated use, they become
covered with mineral powder making it difficult to find a spot to test streak color.
Wash with water and an old toothbrush if you need cleaner surfaces to test.

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Steel Nails have a hardness near to that of glass (5.5) and are used to test
mineral grains that are recessed in a rock so that they cannot be tested against
the glass plate.

Pennies minted 1982 or before were made mostly of copper, so their hardness is
3 (as in native copper). Pennies minted 1983 and later are an alloy of zinc and
copper, so they have a hardness a little greater than 3 (3.2–3.5). The penny in
your kit is supposed to be one minted 1982 or earlier.

Magnets are used to test for the special property of magnetism. Of the minerals
that are provided in your lab kit, the only one that is strongly attracted to a
magnet is magnetite. If the magnet can be suspended from a specimen, then it is
strongly magnetic.

A hand lens is used to examine minerals grains closely, especially in rocks. An

inexpensive magnifying glass may also be used, but typically provides only low
magnification (3x to 5x). A hand lens is used by holding the lens very close to
your eye (as close as eyeglasses), and then bringing the specimen up to within
an inch or two of the magnifier. The lens can be held steady by holding your
hand against your face. Focus the image by moving the specimen, not the hand
lens. It is tricky to not block the light with your head, but a hand lens allows high
magnification (typically 10x, but up to 20x) with little distortion and a bright image.
Because of its small size and protective sleeve, it is ideal for field work.

White vinegar is included in your lab kit in a dropper bottle as a safe substitute
for hydrochloric acid (HCl). Practicing geologists use HCl because vinegar is not
strong enough to test for dolomite. Because dolomite was not included in your
lab kit, the vinegar will be adequate for acid tests.

Metal spoons are used to crush tiny rock crumbs in order to do the acid test with
the white vinegar. They are not included in your kit, but you can use a common
tablespoon.

Pencil and eraser are preferred for most of your lab work over pen as many of
your lab activities are processes which include revision of your initial marks.
Using a pen makes for messy and illegible papers.

Mineral specimens vary. Not every property listed in the mineral charts will be
apparent in every specimen of that mineral. Minerals can occur in fine-grained
masses in which crystals are microscopic (microcrystalline) or even sub-
microscopic (cryptocrystalline) in size and cleavage can therefore not be
observed. Hardness and density may be lower than normal due to the loose and
porous nature of some specimens. Large single crystals are relatively rare in
nature, especially for some minerals, so crystal form may not always be visible.

More minerals are included in your identification charts than you have in your lab
kit for several reasons. Different textbooks choose slightly different sets of

Mineral Identification Page 18 of 33

minerals for students to study, plus geology professors may choose to include
minerals important to their particular geologic specialty. Also, an instructor may
want you to be familiar with a particular mineral that is common where you live,
even though the mineral is uncommon in most areas of the country or even the
world. The online lab activities provide opportunities to practice the mineral
identification process for some of these other minerals.

TIPS

Luster

For most minerals, luster is blatantly obvious, but black, shiny mineral specimens
can be troublesome. Black and shiny do not automatically mean ―metallic.‖ To
determine whether these specimens are actually metallic, remember the
following tips:
Minerals with metallic luster are generally dense; they have a higher
specific gravity than minerals with non-metallic luster.
Minerals with metallic luster are generally opaque; if the specimen is
translucent, then consider the specimen to have non-metallic luster.
Minerals with metallic luster generally have streaks that are not white.

Hardness

A few minerals have a hardness range that does not always fit neatly into
the three categories of softer than a fingernail (<2.5), harder than glass
(>5.5), or between the hardness of glass and a fingernail (>2.5 and
<5.5). Augite and hornblende, which have a hardness range of 5-6 on
Mohs scale, are the two most common. Since the hardness of glass is
between 5 and 6, some specimens of each of these two minerals scratch
glass and some do not.
The harder the mineral, the easier it will be to make the scratch and the
deeper the scratch is likely to be. Minerals that have a hardness near to
that of glass, for example, 5.5 or 6 on Mohs scale, will probably not
scratch glass at all with light pressure. Press the mineral firmly against the
glass plate to get the best test results. If considerably harder than glass,
the mineral can be heard and felt scratching the glass plate with ease. A
mineral less hard than glass will not scratch the glass plate no matter how
much pressure you use.
Fine-grained, earthy specimens often appear considerably softer than
large crystals of the same mineral. This can happen when the scratch test
dislodges tiny crystals, disaggregating the specimen, but the test does not
truly scratch the crystals. To help narrow your search for the proper
identification, minerals that commonly occur in earthy varieties are listed in

Mineral Identification Page 19 of 33

 the mineral identification charts twice: once for crystalline specimens and
again for massive varieties.

Cleavage
Determining the number and angles of cleavage can be confusing. Start
simply. The first question to ask is, ―Does this specimen exhibit fracture
alone or cleavage on at least one side?‖ If the specimen has cleavage,
then ask: ―How many cleavages are present?‖ If you determine that there
is more than one cleavage direction, then ask: ―What is the angle between
the cleavage directions?‖ Even if you cannot confidently answer the
second and third questions, often the fact that a mineral has cleavage [or
not] is enough information to get past this part of the analysis successfully.
When the specimen is a mass of crystals, the crystals may not be aligned
to produce one smooth, flat cleavage surface on each side. You may be
able to determine only the presence of cleavage without knowing just how
many directions of cleavage the specimen has. Even this incomplete
information is often enough to help you determine the mineral’s true
identity.
When specimens are very fine grained and you cannot see crystals, you
cannot accurately determine cleavage. If the mineral ALWAYS occurs in
very fine grained aggregates, the mineral charts list the cleavage as
―none,‖ even though cleavage may be present under the microscope. The
identification process accounts for the fact that cleavage, even if actually
present, cannot be observed.
Some minerals occur very frequently in fine-grained massive varieties that
do not exhibit cleavage. These minerals (calcite, dolomite, and gypsum)
appear in two places in the mineral identification charts: once for
crystalline specimens and again for massive varieties.

Streak
White streaks are sometimes difficult to distinguish on the white porcelain
streak plate. If you cannot see a streak, rub your finger over the place where
you attempted the streak and inspect your finger for a white powder.
You may notice that some minerals grind up the streak plate instead of being
ground to a powder themselves. This indicates the mineral is harder than the
streak plate (around 7). Sometimes the streak of such hard minerals is
termed ―none‖, but the identification process does not depend upon this
subtlety. The question you ask is simply, ―What color is the streak?‖

Mineral Identification Page 20 of 33

Crystal Faces and Cleavage Surfaces

Since cleavage surfaces and crystal faces are both planar features, they can be
difficult to distinguish. They have different patterns, so it is useful to study the
diagrams of crystal shapes and cleavage possibilities. Here are some other
clues as to whether a planar surface is a cleavage surface or a crystal face.
Crystal faces can grow irregularly, leaving small pits or triangular
depressions. In an extreme case, the crystal edges can grow much faster
than the center of a face, turning the face into a stepped, inward depression
like a sunken garden or inverted Mayan temple.
Crystal faces, since they are exposed to mineral solutions, can become
etched and pitted if they dissolve slightly, dulled by exposure to air and water,
or stained by iron oxides and other minerals. Cleavage faces will not be
etched or pitted, but can be stained if groundwater has seeped into a
cleavage crack that was later broken to give the cleavage surface.
A common crystal form is the hexagonal prism, like a fat wooden pencil.
Cleavage never takes this shape.
Crystal faces often have visible growth lines, or striations, which you can see
easily and feel with your fingernail. For example, quartz often has growth
striations CROSS-WISE on the hexagonal prism crystal faces, and pyrite
often has striations on cube crystal faces. Cleavage surfaces won’t show
striations. An exception is plagioclase, which shows striations on one of its
cleavage faces that are due to twinning and that usually cannot be felt with a
fingernail.
Crystals often have four or more faces joining at a point. Cleavage rarely
does this. Fluorite is the only common mineral that can do this because it has
four cleavage directions. It is possible, however, for SOME of the surfaces
joining at a point to be cleavage surfaces, while others are crystal faces.
Crystal faces are often mirror-like and very smooth. Only perfect cleavage
can produce surfaces of such extreme smoothness.
Crystal faces can only be created when a crystal grows into a fluid-filled
space, such as an open vein, hollow geode, or molten magma, so that other
crystals do not interfere with its growth. When SOLID rocks are broken, most
of the planar surfaces that sparkle in the light are probably cleavage surfaces,
not crystal faces. Two common exceptions to this are porous (not solid)
quartz sandstones and dolostones, where crystal faces have grown on quartz
sand grains or dolomite crystals, creating sparkling surfaces.
Cleavage surfaces can be observed as planar cracks INSIDE transparent and
translucent crystals. If these are parallel to an external face, the external face
may also be a cleavage surface, although it is possible that a crystal face
parallels a cleavage direction (e.g., halite).

Mineral Identification Page 21 of 33

 Often, an external cleavage surface is broken by steps and offsets. If a
surface continues beyond the step INTO the mineral, then it must be
cleavage. This can result in thin flakes or sheets barely adhering to the rest
of the specimen. Thin cleavage flakes and narrow cleavage cracks can
cause interference colors (like an oil film on water) and internal flashes of
light.
Two cleavage directions will often intersect to create stair-steps on a broken
face. All of the ―tops‖ of the stairs reflect light at the same orientation, and
upon turning the specimen, all of the ―sides‖ of the stairs reflect light at a
different orientation. The difference in orientation gives the angle between
the two cleavage directions, which is important to note. Stair-step features
can also be created with crystal faces when a crystal grows irregularly, but is
much more commonly caused by cleavage.
Of course, creating the surface yourself by breaking a specimen obviously
proves the surface is cleavage. It is usually not desirable to break a mineral
specimen any more than necessary, but frequently, small bits of minerals will
break off while handling and storing a mineral specimen. Small cleavage
fragments are often created when performing hardness and streak tests.
These can be inspected with a hand lens to determine cleavage directions.

Color
Remember that color is not a reliable identifying characteristic of many
minerals. Minerals with highly variable color are quartz, calcite, and fluorite.
Color can be diagnostic for only a few minerals. (Sulfur-yellow, malachite-
bright green)
The only minerals that are never clear and colorless are the ones with
metallic luster.
Green is a common color for minerals with nonmetallic luster, but relatively
uncommon for minerals with a metallic luster.

Mineral Identification Page 22 of 33

EXERCISES

Assignments:

Part 1: Print the Demonstration Mineral Data Sheet.

Fill in the missing information as you view each Mineral Properties
video.
Use the Mineral Identification Charts to fill in any remaining
properties not covered in the lab videos.
Part 2: Download the Mineral Data Sheet (pdf file) and/or print the page
from your lab manual. (You may want to first work with a hard copy
and then transfer your answers to an electronic format.
Record your observations on the Mineral Data Sheet.
Identify the twenty-one (21) minerals.

READ THIS BEFORE YOU BEGIN

1. View the lab videos for mineral identification.

Minerals: Lab intro
Mineral Properties: Luster
Mineral Properties: Hardness
Mineral Properties: Cleavage & Fracture
Mineral Properties: Specific Gravity
Mineral Properties: Miscellaneous
Mineral Identification

2. Review the lab manual chapter.

Mineral Identification Page 23 of 33

 Mineral Decision Tree

Mineral Identification Page 24 of 33

 Scratches glass
Scratches glass
Group A
Mineral Identification Chart
Nonmetallic
Has cleavage

Specimen Hardness
Luster Cleavage Streak S.G. Other Properties Mineral Name
No. Number
Nonmetallic Dark green to black
Two planes at nearly 90 White to Augite
Vitreous 5-6 3.2 – 3.6 Often appears as squarish, blocky
opaque degrees, poor to fair pale green (Pyroxene Group)
grains
Nonmetallic
Vitreous Dark green to black
Two planes intersecting
Fresh surfaces are 6-sided crystals common Hornblende
at 56 and 124 degrees White to
often glossy 5-6 3 – 3.4 Often appears as elongated, (Amphibole
Opaque but can Cleavage often has pale green
needle-shaped grains Group)
be translucent on splintery appearance
thin edges
Blue, white gray, green
Nonmetallic
Color may be patchy
Vitreous to pearly 5-7 One good cleavage White 3.56 – 3.66 Kyanite
Often translucent Commonly occurs as bladed
crystals and as crystal masses
Nonmetallic Color varies from white to cream
Vitreous to pink and salmon pink
Grains have
Two planes at nearly 90 Crystals uncommon Orthoclase
glossy 6 White 2.56
appearance degrees May exhibit internal color streaks (Feldspar Group)
Can be and variations but boundaries are
translucent not perfectly straight
Color varies, usually white to gray
Nonmetallic Two planes at nearly 90
Striations diagnostic, if present
Vitreous degrees Plagioclase
6 White 2.6 – 2.75 Some samples may show play of
Can be Cleavage surfaces may (Feldspar Group)
translucent iridescent colors (blue, green, or
show striations
yellow) on cleavage surfaces
Nonmetallic Yellow green to green to black
One perfect cleavage, Pale yellow
Vitreous to dull 6-7 3.34 – 3.45 Granular masses common Epidote
Translucent only rarely seen to white
Occasionally slender prisms
Nonmetallic White or Colorless, yellow, blue, pink, or
8 One perfect cleavage 3.4 – 3.6 Topaz
Vitreous colorless brown

Mineral Identification Page 25 of 33

 Scratches glass
Scratches glass
Group B
Mineral Identification Chart
Nonmetallic
No cleavage

Specimen Mineral
No. Luster Hardness Cleavage Streak S.G. Other Properties
Name
Nonmetallic None - Fracture may Color varies but dark red to reddish
Vitreous to resemble a poor cleavage White or brown common, green and yellow
shade of the
resinous 6.5 – 7.5 or be conchoidal mineral 3.6 – 4.3 possible Garnet
Transparent to Brittle, splintery breakage 12-sided dodecahedron (“ball-
translucent common color shaped”) crystals common
Nonmetallic Color commonly olive green, can be
Vitreous None White or
Transparent to 6.5 - 7 Conchoidal fracture gray 3.2. – 4.3 yellowish-green to brownish green Olivine
Commonly in granular masses
translucent
Nonmetallic Green to black
Pale yellow
Vitreous to dull 6-7 No visible cleavage to white 3.34 – 3.45 Granular masses common Epidote
Translucent Occasionally slender prisms
Nonmetallic
Waxy to dull None Wide variety of colors; “earth tones” Chalcedony
Opaque Characterized by White to
common, but 7 conchoidal fracture with gray 2.6 more common (microcrystalline
May have bands of variegated colors quartz)
may be sharp edges
translucent
Nonmetallic Colorless, white, or gray, but almost
any color can occur
Vitreous 7 None White 2.65 Hexagonal crystals with striations Quartz
Transparent to Conchoidal fracture
translucent (growth lines) not uncommon
Also massive or granular
Nonmetallic
Vitreous or Poor White to Color red-brown to brownish black
resinous 7 – 7.5 3.65 – 3.75 Tarnishes dull dark brown Staurolite
Opaque to Not usually seen gray Cross-shaped twins possible
translucent
Nonmetallic Color black, green, brown, pink
Vitreous None Can occur as long crystals with a
Usually opaque 7 – 7.5 White 3.0 – 3.25 triangular cross section Tourmaline
can be Conchoidal fracture Crystal striations (growth lines)
translucent prominent
Nonmetallic
Vitreous None Color varies but commonly brown
9 Occasional conchoidal White 4 Gray white Corundum
Commonly fracture Barrel-shaped hexagonal crystals
opaque

Mineral Identification Page 26 of 33

 Scratches
Does glass glass
not scratch
Group C
Mineral Identification Chart Nonmetallic Has cleavage

Specimen Hardness Mineral

Luster Cleavage Streak S.G. Other Properties
No. Number Name
Color pale green, also shades of white
Pearly to dull, or gray
1 One perfect cleavage White 2.82 Talc
translucent Greasy or soapy feel
Will mark on cloth
Vitreous/pearly Cleavage good in one direction Colorless to white, gray, red to yellow,
Transparent to 2 producing thin brittle sheets White 2.32 brown Gypsum
opaque Fracture may be fibrous Bladed crystals common
Vitreous Colorless or white, blue, gray, yellow,
Perfect Cubic – three at 90
Transparent to 2 - 2.5 White 2.2 red, or purple Halite
degrees
translucent Table salt taste
Vitreous to Perfect cleavage forming flexible White to Green to greenish black
2.5 2.7 – 3.3 Chlorite
earthy non-elastic sheets pale green May have slippery feel
Perfect cleavage forming thin,
Vitreous to White to Biotite
2.5 - 4 usually opaque, flexible and 2.9 – 3.1 Dark green, brown, to black
pearly gray (Mica Group)
elastic sheets
Perfect cleavage yields thin,
Vitreous to silky Colorless to shades of green, gray or Muscovite
2.5 - 4 translucent flexible and elastic White 2.8 – 2.9
or pearly brown (Mica Group)
sheets
Dull to vitreous White, red, brown, yellow, blue
2 cleavages – one perfect and White or
Transparent to 3 – 3.5 4.5 Platy or bladed crystals, massive or in Barite
one poor to fair colorless
translucent rose-like shapes
Colorless and transparent, white, or
variety of colors possible
Vitreous
Perfect rhombohedral cleavage – White to Effervesces in cold dilute HCL, or when
Transparent to 3 2.7 Calcite
three NOT at 90 degrees gray powdered in vinegar
translucent
Double refraction in transparent
varieties
Dull, resinous, Three good cubic cleavages –
3 – 3.5 White 2.9 Clear, white, reddish, pale blue/gray Anhydrite
vitreous or pearly three at 90 degrees
Colorless, white, pink, gray, greenish,
Vitreous to or yellow-brown
pearly Rhombohedral cleavage – three Crystals common
3.5 - 4 White 2.85-3.2 Dolomite
Transparent to NOT at 90 degrees Reaction with cold dilute HCL ONLY
translucent when powdered (does not react to
vinegar
Perfect cleavage in 6 directions
Resinous (dodecahedral) Brown to
Yellow brown to dark brown or black
Translucent to 3.5 - 4 All 6 not commonly seen on one light yellow 4.0 Sphalerite
Burnt match odor when scratched
opaque specimen or white
Cleavage faces common
Vitreous
Perfect octahedral cleavage Colorless but wide range of colors
Transparent to 4 White 3.2 Fluorite
(4 planes – NOT at 90 degrees) possible
translucent

Mineral Identification Page 27 of 33

 Scratches
Does glass glass
not scratch
Group D
Mineral Identification Chart Nonmetallic No cleavage
Specimen Hardness Mineral
Luster Cleavage Streak S.G. Other Properties
No. Number Name
Pearly to greasy Pale green or shades of gray to white common
No apparent cleavage in
or dull luster, 1 White 2.82 Greasy or soap feel diagnostic Talc
massive varieties
translucent Will mark on cloth
Opaque
No cleavage apparent in Color white, often stained
Dull to earthy 2 White 2.6 Kaolinite
common massive varieties. Earthy smell when damp (like ceramic greenware)
luster
Brownish Color variable: yellow, yellow-brown to brownish black Goethite
Earthy, opaque 1–5 None apparent 3.3 – 3.4
yellow Common as earthy masses (limonite)
Dull to resinous Brittle with no cleavage Yellow to red
Native
translucent to 1.5 – 2.5 Sometimes conchoidal Pale yellow 2.1 Bright crystals or earthy masses
Sulphur
opaque fracture Smells like burnt matches
Vitreous to
White in color but impurities may cause shades of
earthy No apparent cleavage in
2 White 2.32 gray, brown, red, orange, or yellow Gypsum
translucent to massive varieties
Massive fine-grained variety called alabaster
opaque
Earthy, dull, White to pale
None White, gray, brick-red, to brown
Commonly 1–3 reddish 2 – 2.55 Bauxite
Often has round concretions in a clay-like mass
opaque brown
Waxy, greasy or Various shades of green, yellow or gray
None
silky Can occur as fibrous or platy masses
2.5 Brittle with uneven and White 2.2 – 2.6 Serpentine
translucent to Smooth feel
often splintery fracture
opaque Some varieties resemble snakeskin (hence the name)
Vitreous to
White or various colors
earthy No apparent cleavage in
3 or less White 2.7 Effervesces in cold weak HCL, or when powdered and Calcite
translucent to massive varieties
exposed to vinegar
opaque
Vitreous to
earthy No apparent cleavage in White or various colors
3.5 – 4 White 2.85 – 3.2 Dolomite
translucent to massive varieties Reacts with cold weak HCL only when powdered
opaque
Earthy and
opaque or Usually massive (has Distinctive deep blue
3.5 – 4 Light blue 3.77 Azurite
vitreous cleavage that is rarely seen) Effervesces with weak HCL
crystals
Earthy and
Uneven splintery fracture
opaque or Green color
3.5 – 4 common (one perfect Green 3.9 – 4.03 Malachite
vitreous Effervesces with weak HCL
cleavage, very rarely seen)
crystals
Vitreous to
Cleavage not obvious (One
subresinous Color variable: green, blue. brown, purple
5 poor and direction difficult White 3.15 – 3.2 Apatite
translucent to Crystals common
to see)
opaque
Red to red-brown
Brick red or Hematite
Submetallic to Earthy appearance
5–6 None reddish- 5-6 (soft iron
earthy, opaque Apparent hardness is lower in fine-grained, earthy
brown ore)
masses which might be scratched easily
Mineral Identification Page 28 of 33
 Scratches glass
Scratches glass
Group E
Mineral Identification Chart Metallic Streak color

Specimen Mineral
Luster Hardness Cleavage Streak S.G. Other Properties
No. Name
Steel gray to black color
Tarnishes red
Brick red to Often micaceous (tiny , glittering Hematite
Metallic 5-6 None 5.6
red-brown crystal flakes) or foliated (specularite)
Brittle
May be weakly magnetic
Dark gray to black in color
Strongly magnetic
Metallic to dull 6 None Black 5.2 Magnetite
Often massive
Oxidizes to a rusty brown
Color commonly gold or brass-
colored
None Greenish or Tarnishes brown
Metallic to dull
6 – 6.5 Uneven to conchoidal brownish 5 Cubic crystals with striated faces Pyrite
fracture black common
Brittle

Mineral Identification Page 29 of 33

 Scratches
Does glass glass
not scratch
Group F
Mineral Identification Chart Metallic Streak color

Specimen
Luster Hardness Cleavage Streak S.G. Other Properties Mineral Name
No.
Color silver to dark gray to black
Greasy feel
Metallic to dull Perfect, but not obvious in Black, dark Smudges fingers when handled
1–2 2.1 – 2.25 Graphite
Opaque massive specimens grey Writes easily on paper
Usually in foliated or scaly
masses
Shiny lead-gray color on
Metallic-often unweathered surfaces
Apparent perfect cubic –
bright 2.5 Lead gray 7.5 – 7.6 Cleavage, high specific gravity Galena
three at about 90 degrees
Opaque and softness diagnostic
Color gray, oxidizes to iridescent
Metallic blue/purple/gold/green
3 None Gray/black 5.06 – 5.08 Common name - peacock ore Bornite
Opaque
Usually massive

Color brass-greenish yellow,

Metallic None Greenish often tarnished to bronze or
3.5 – 4 4.1 – 4.3 Chalcopyrite
Opaque Brittle, uneven fracture black iridescent
Usually massive
Copper color to dark brown
Color of
Metallic to dull None May oxidize green or black
3 new 8.9 Native Copper
Opaque Hackly fracture Malleable and ductile
pennies
Irregular masses common
Color yellow to yellow-brown to
Submetallic to Perfect in 6 directions White to dark brown
resinous (dodecahedral) All six are light Cleavage faces common
3.5 – 4 3.9 – 4.1 Sphalerite
Opaque to not commonly seen on one yellow, Weak burnt match smell when
translucent specimen. brown scratched
Color yellow brown to dark
Brownish
brown, may be almost black
Metallic to dull yellow to
5 – 5.5 Yes, but very rarely seen 3.3 – 4.3 Brittle Goethite
Opaque orange-
Usually occurs as earthy masses
yellow
May seem very soft

Mineral Identification Page 30 of 33

 Demonstration Mineral Data Sheet
Specimen Hardness
Luster Cleavage Streak S.G. Other Properties Mineral Name
No. Number

 Bornite

 Sphalerite

 Medium Chlorite

 Topaz

 Tourmaline

 Malachite

 < 2.5 None White Yellow Sulfur

Nonmetallic
 vitreous
< 2.5 3 at 90 degrees White Translucent Halite

Mineral Identification Page 31 of 33

Mineral Data Sheet Student Name ____________
Section ____________
Specimen Hardness
Luster Cleavage Streak S.G. Other Properties Mineral Name
No. Number
1

10

11

12

13

Mineral Identification Page 32 of 33

Mineral Data Sheet Student Name ____________
Section ____________

Specimen Hardness
Luster Cleavage Streak S.G. Other Properties Mineral Name
No. Number
14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

Mineral Identification Page 33 of 33