Physical Properties of Minerals Quiz

All minerals have the same color.

The way a mineral reflects light is called luster.

Cleavage refers to the way a mineral feels when touched.

A mineral with metallic luster looks shiny like a metal.

Streak is always the same color as the mineral.

What is the difference between cleavage and fracture in minerals?

Name two tools you can use to test a mineral's hardness.

Why is color alone not a reliable property for identifying minerals?

What property is tested by rubbing a mineral on a porcelain tile?

Name three physical properties you can use to identify a mineral.

Physical Properties of Minerals

Minerals have various physical properties used for identification
Hardness is a mineral's resistance to scratching
Luster describes how a mineral reflects light, with examples like metallic, non-metallic, glassy, or dull
Color isn't always reliable for identification due to impurities
Streak is the color of a mineral's powder
Cleavage describes how a mineral breaks along flat surfaces
Fracture describes how a mineral breaks in an irregular way

Hardness Measurement

The Mohs Hardness Scale measures a mineral's resistance to scratching
Minerals are ranked from 1 (softest, talc) to 10 (hardest, diamond)

Mineral Properties

Luster: Describes how light reflects off a mineral's surface (metallic, non-metallic, glassy, dull, etc.)
Color: Not a reliable identifier on its own, due to impurities
Streak: The color of a mineral's powder when rubbed against a hard surface.
Cleavage: The way a mineral breaks along flat surfaces.
Fracture: The way a mineral breaks in an irregular pattern.

Mineral Identification

Use a variety of physical properties to reliably identify minerals
Testing different properties, like hardness, luster, color, streak, cleavage, or fracture, allows for a more accurate identification.

Test your knowledge on the physical properties of minerals, such as hardness, luster, color, streak, cleavage, and fracture. Learn how to identify minerals using the Mohs Hardness Scale and understand the significance of these properties in mineralogy.