Characteristics of Minerals

Minerals

In order to be classified as a mineral, it must have all 5 of these characteristics:

• Natural: it must occur naturally

• Inorganic: it must NOT be made from living things or the remains of living things

• Solid: solid everywhere on Earth's surface

• Definite chemical composition: must have the same chemical formula throughout

• Crystalline structure: atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern making a specific shape

Understanding Minerals

• Fill out your worksheet as you watch the video

Mineral Identification 

Properties

• Color: most easily observed, but the least reliable

Luster: how a mineral reflects light

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Hardness: rated on the Mohs scale from 1, softest, to 10, hardest

Streak: color of the powder scraped off a mineral

Cleavage: breaking along flat surfaces

​Fracture: breakage of a mineral when atomic bonding is perfect, and there is no weakness. It occurs along curved surfaces without a definite shape.

Mineral Identification

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following are characteristics of a mineral?

• natural

• crystalline structure

• solid

• all of the above

Multiple Select

Which of the following do NOT classify as a mineral because they don't meet all 5 characteristics?

• coal

• wood

• salt

• quartz

Multiple Choice

If a mineral breaks along flat surfaces, it demonstrates this property.

• color

• streak

• luster

• cleavage

Multiple Choice

If a mineral is said to be "metallic", this is a description of its:

• color

• streak

• luster

• cleavage

Multiple Choice

If a mineral is gold in color, but the powdered color is rusty brown, this is an example of its:

• color

• streak

• luster

• cleavage

Multiple Choice

This mineral identification property is the most easily observed, but the least reliable.

• color

• streak

• luster

• cleavage