Minerals
properties of minerals
Colour-
Colour is easy to determine and can be an indication on the type of stone
although it is not always reliable. An example is Jade because it is often green
but can come in multiple different colours
Streak-
A streak is the mark that gets made when some minerals get
scratched on a porcelain plate . For example if you scratch gold on a hard
surface it makes a different streak than fools gold.
lustre-
A streak is the mark that gets made when some minerals get
scratched on a porcelain plate . For example if you scratch gold on a hard
surface it makes a different streak than fools gold.
hardness-
You can tell have hard a mineral is by scratching one mineral against another. The softer
mineral can not make a mark on the harder mineral. Though the harder mineral can make
a mark on the softer one. Hence diamond will scratch quarts but quarts wont scratch diamond.
Crstal structure-
All minerals are crystal. Geologists can tell how fast the mineral cooled from liquid
from solid by the size of the mineral. The larger the crystal the slower it cooled.
cleavage-
The lines the minerals splits .
magnetism-
Minerals that attract magnets have magnetism. Minerals have to have iron in them to
have magnetism
reaction with certain chemicals-
You can sometimes tell which mineral it is by the reaction with certain chemicals. For
example marble reacts to vinegar which is an acidic solution. The vinegar reacts to the
carbonate materials in the minerals. |