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Understanding Mineral Properties: Luster, Density, Hardness, and Special Attributes

This guide explores key properties of minerals essential for classification and identification. We delve into luster, describing how light reflects off surfaces as metallic, glassy, or dull. Density is defined as mass per unit volume. The Mohs Hardness Scale ranks minerals from softest to hardest, guiding identification based on scratch tests. We also cover crystal systems and how cleavage and fracture reveal mineral identities. Additionally, special properties like fluorescence, chemical reactions, and magnetism provide further insight into each mineral's unique characteristics.

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Understanding Mineral Properties: Luster, Density, Hardness, and Special Attributes

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Mineral Properties!!

  2. Luster • The luster of a mineral is the term used to describe how light is reflected from a mineral’s surface • Metallic • Glassy (vitreous) • Waxy, greasy, pearly • Dull (submetallic) • Silky • Earthy

  3. Metallic

  4. Glassy

  5. Waxy

  6. Dull (submetallic)

  7. Silky

  8. Earthy

  9. Density • The density of a given substance is the mass per unit of volume • Dividing a sample’s mass by it’s volume will give the density of the material Density = Mass Volume

  10. Hardness • Hardness is one of the best clues one can use to identify minerals • Mohs Hardness Scale • Ranks 10 minerals from softest to hardest

  11. Scratch Test • A mineral can scratch any mineral softer than itself, but can be scratched by any mineral that is harder. • Apatite can scratch Talc, but is scratched by Corundum • How would you determine the hardness of a mineral not on the Mohs scale?

  12. Crystal Systems • Geologists classify how the crystals grow into six different groups based on shape (the number and angle of the crystal faces)

  13. Crystal structure pictures

  14. Cleavage and Fracture • Geologists can determine the identity of a mineral by how it breaks or splits. • When a mineral splits easily it is said to have cleavage • Most minerals do not split apart evenly • When a mineral splits unevenly it is called fracture

  15. Special Properties • Fluorescence – some minerals glow under ultraviolet light • Chemical reaction – some minerals will fizz when in contact with acid • Optical properties – some minerals bend light to cause a double image • Radioactivity – some minerals that contain radium or uranium can be detected by a Geiger counter • Magnetism – some minerals are natural magnets that attract iron

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