Minerals

COLOR

can be misleading

LUSTER

quality of light reflected - lustrous

metallic

submetallic

nonmetallic

pearly

earthy

glassy

vitreous

greasy

silky

STREAK

LIGHT

opaque

transparent

translucent

habit

crystal shape

tenacity

resistance to breaking

malleable

brittle

sectile

talc - shavable

elastic

mica

hardness

ability to be scratched

cleavage

tendency to break along line of weak atomic bonds

fracture

equally strong chemical bonds tend to fracture

density

specific gravity

ratio of mineral weight to weight of equal vol of water

2ndary characteristics

magnetism

taste

feel

double refraction

chem reaction to HCl

carbonates will fizz

Subtopic

well defined chem composition

and naturally occuring

ice!

solid mass of mineral or mineral-like matter

rocks with non-mineral matter inc obsidian etc

inorganic compounds containing elements needed for life

often metals

Ca, K, Fe

organic

most abundant

make up earths crust

8 elements make up 98% and most rockforming minerals

Subtopic