Color is not a good property to use to identify a mineral?
Many minerals have the same color.
slate limestone
Some exceptions to the color rule would be cinnabar, which is always red, and
malachite, which is green.
The streak is often not the same color as the mineral.
A minerals color may vary, but the streak rarely will!
Luster refers to the way a mineral shines in reflected light.
Notice the difference between these two minerals?
There are several terms used to describe nonmetallic luster.
Examples could be vitreous, like the quartz on the left, or pearly,
like the gypsum on the right.
Other terms that might be used include greasy, dull, and earthy.
Can you tell which of these has an earthy luster and which has a
vitreous luster?
Earthy
Vitreous
Earth Science 2nd, 3rd, 4thMonday, October 4, 2010
+ Collected homework assignment from Friday, October 1, 2010 * Read 9.2 {pages 163-169}
* Outline section 9.2+ Began class notes regarding “Properties used to Identify Minerals” + Read or reread section 9.2, then answer Critical Thinking questions 1-5 and Application 1-4 on page 171.
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