The Six Characteristics
There are over 4000 different types of minerals and we need a way to know all of them one from another so we use characteristics! These are very helpful factors of all things in the world that can be studied to tell things apart! There are six main characteristics and you can learn all of them here!
Crystal Structure
All great rocks contain Crystals... Right?
The "crystal structure" is a very important characteristic of minerals that determine the shape of the mineral. All crystals have straight edges regular angles and flat sides and this is determined by the crystal structure characteristic. The six different crystal systems are shown in the image to the left!
The "crystal structure" is a very important characteristic of minerals that determine the shape of the mineral. All crystals have straight edges regular angles and flat sides and this is determined by the crystal structure characteristic. The six different crystal systems are shown in the image to the left!
Hardness
Not all rocks are as hard as stone!
In the image to the right you can see that another characteristic of minerals is "hardness" which is the measure of the resistance of scratch for a certain mineral. the image to the right is actually a scale called the "Mohs Hardness Scale" which is was invent by a German scientist, Friedrich Mohs!
In the image to the right you can see that another characteristic of minerals is "hardness" which is the measure of the resistance of scratch for a certain mineral. the image to the right is actually a scale called the "Mohs Hardness Scale" which is was invent by a German scientist, Friedrich Mohs!
Luster
"Gold, silver, and anything shiny!"
The luster characteristic is the characteristic that determines if a mineral is shiny or not. Gold and silver of two examples of minerals with great luster! The two base characteristics of this characteristic category are none-metallic and metallic luster. If a mineral is metallic it shines like a polished metal surface, and if its non-metallic it does not.
The luster characteristic is the characteristic that determines if a mineral is shiny or not. Gold and silver of two examples of minerals with great luster! The two base characteristics of this characteristic category are none-metallic and metallic luster. If a mineral is metallic it shines like a polished metal surface, and if its non-metallic it does not.
Color
"Roy G. Biv" ~He was a man of many colors...
Color is a major characteristic of minerals especially because the most beautiful and expensive ones are almost all ways colorful.Two or more minerals may have the exact same color but it all depends on whats on the inside! For example if corundum contains iron it will be blue but if it contains chromium it will turn out red!
Color is a major characteristic of minerals especially because the most beautiful and expensive ones are almost all ways colorful.Two or more minerals may have the exact same color but it all depends on whats on the inside! For example if corundum contains iron it will be blue but if it contains chromium it will turn out red!
Streak
"All scratched up"
The streak of a mineral is the mark that is left by the mineral when scratched against a porcelain tile. If the mineral has a hardness value higher than 7 it will not leave a streak in the porcelain tile. This can be used to test whether a mineral is gold or pyrite because gold will leave a gold mark and pyrite will leave a blackish one.
The streak of a mineral is the mark that is left by the mineral when scratched against a porcelain tile. If the mineral has a hardness value higher than 7 it will not leave a streak in the porcelain tile. This can be used to test whether a mineral is gold or pyrite because gold will leave a gold mark and pyrite will leave a blackish one.
Cleavage and Fracture
You look a little flaky my friend... or is that a fracture?
The cleavage and fracture characteristic determines that way a mineral brakes. If it pulls off in sheets or flakes it is called cleavage but if it breaks with a rough or jagged edge it is called fracture. one example of a rock that fractures is courts and one for cleavage is mica!
The cleavage and fracture characteristic determines that way a mineral brakes. If it pulls off in sheets or flakes it is called cleavage but if it breaks with a rough or jagged edge it is called fracture. one example of a rock that fractures is courts and one for cleavage is mica!