| MINERAL NAME LUSTER (appearance) HARDNESS | Fluorite Non-metallic (purple, green, yellow) Softer than glass | Calcite Non-metallic Softer than glass | Halite Non-metallic Softer than glass | Gypsum Non-metallic Softer than glass and softer than a fingernail |
|---|
What minerals have no streaks?
Streak is a more reliable property than color because streak does not vary. Minerals that are the same color may have a different colored streak. Many minerals, such as
the quartz
in the Figure above, do not have streak.
What mineral is slippery?
Flat planes of carbon atoms form the
mineral graphite
, which is a gray, slippery, soft material. Carbon atoms arranged in a different pattern form the mineral diamond — the hardest natural substance known.
What mineral has a yellow streak?
A streak is useful in distinguishing two minerals with the same color but different streak. A good example is
distinguishng Gold
(yellow streak), and Chalcopyrite (black streak).
Which mineral has a salty taste?
Halite
, the mineral name for common salt, is cubic and is typically colourless or white but may be tinted various colours by impurities. It breaks into cubes because of its three perfect cleavages at right angles to each other and has a characteristic salty taste.
What mineral has a pink or white wavy lines right angles 2 cleavage planes?
The mineral that is pink or white, has wavy lines right angles, and two cleavage planes is
Orthoclase
. Orthoclase represents an essential mineral of polysilicate, that shapes up an igneous rock.
Which minerals are harder than quartz?
| 10 Diamond | 9 Corundum (rubies and sapphires) | 8 Topaz | 7 Quartz [Example: It scratches window glass] | 6 Feldspar [Example: A steel file will scratch it] |
|---|
What is the softest mineral?
Talc
is the softest and diamond is the hardest. Each mineral can scratch only those below it on the scale.
What mineral is black?
| Mineral Name Color Streak Color | Aguilarite # black black, grayish | Pseudobrookite # black brown | Bracewellite black brown, dark | Loparite-(Ce) # black brown, reddish |
|---|
What mineral smells like rotten eggs?
Hydrogen sulfide
smells like rotten eggs. Most sulphur on Earth is found in sulfide and sulfate minerals.
What mineral is green in color?
Chlorite
. The most widespread green mineral, chlorite is rarely present by itself. In microscopic form, it gives a dull olive green color to a wide range of metamorphic rocks from slate and phyllite to schist.
What are the two main types of luster?
There are two main types of luster:
metallic and nonmetallic
. There are several subtypes of nonmetallic luster, namely vitreous, resinous, pearly, greasy, silky, adamantine, dull, and waxy.
Which is the best indicator of minerals true color?
Streak
– the color of a mineral in powdered form. Good indicator of a minerals true color because the streak is not affected by air or water.
Which mineral has cubic cleavage with a salty taste?
Physical Properties of
Halite
Cleavage, solubility, salty taste (The taste test is discouraged. Some minerals are toxic or contaminated by other people tasting them.) Halite structure: This diagram shows the arrangement of sodium and chloride ions in a crystal of halite.
Which mineral attracts magnets?
Magnetite (Fe
3
O
4
)
is a common Earth mineral. It readily attracts a cheap ceramic magnet.
What mineral is salty taste perfect cubic cleavage?
| Composition NaCl | CAS 7647-14-5 | Mohs Hardness 2.0 – 2.5 | Density 2.4-2.6 | Molecular Weight 58.44 |
|---|
