What are the 10 properties of minerals?
1 Color. The most obvious property of a mineral, its color, is unfortunately also the least diagnostic. 2 Crystal form. 3 Hardness. 4 Luster. 5 Density. 6 Cleavage and fracture. 7 Mineral classification systems. 8 Summary. 9 Key Concepts.
Why are minerals classified according to hardness?
Minerals were grouped according to characteristics such as hardness, so that diamond and corundum would be in the same class of minerals. As the ability to determine the chemical composition of minerals developed, so did a new classification system.
What is the hardness of 10 minerals?
The 10 minerals are: All conceivable minerals fit in this scale, since Talc is the softest known mineral and Diamond the hardest. To demonstrate how to use the scale, understand the following example: Suppose a mineral scratches Fluorite, but not Apatite , then it has a hardness between 4 and 5.
How are the physical properties of minerals used to diagnose diseases?
Because the physical properties of a mineral are determined by its chemical composition and internal atomic structure, they can be used diagnostically, the way a runny nose and sore throat can be used to diagnose a cold.
What is the luster of a mineral?
A mineral that reflects light the way glass does has a vitreous (or glassy) luster; a mineral that reflects light like chrome has a metallic luster. There are a variety of additional possibilities for luster, including pearly, waxy, and resinous (see pictures in Figure 5).
How to identify minerals?
Once a person becomes experienced in this field, he can usually identify a mineral by observing it and taking into account its specific features, such as color and crystal formation. Below is a list of all of these properties. Select a property to learn about it, and how it is used as an identification procedure.