Methods of Mineral Identification

Color

In the majority of instances color is rarely a preferred method of identification. This is because minerals of the same
chemical composition can occur in a wide variety of colors. Therefore, color is the LEAST useful in identifying a mineral.

Habit

Habit refers to the crystallography of a mineral specimen. As many people know minerals are made up of atoms of
many different elements. These atoms are arranged in a certain orderly geometric way to form what is called a unit cell.
A unit cell is the most basic building block of a mineral species. This unit cell is reflected in the overall shape of a mineral
specimen and is what one sees when looking at a symmetric crystal.

In mineralogy this symmetry will fall under one of 32 different classes or types. Amazingly, even with several thousand
known mineral species there are only 32 classes of symmetry that a mineral may possess. These 32 classes are further
broken down into crystal systems based upon similarities in exhibited structures in a specific specimen. These Crystal
Groups are identified as follows:

1. Isometric or cubic crystal system – three axes at 90o with equal spacing of the atoms in a unit cell, i.e., cubes of
galena or fluorite. Five of the crystal classes are in the isometric system. A few of the forms this system may
exhibit are shown below:
2. Tetragonal - three axes at 90o with one axis (vertical) longer than the other two (horizontal) which are equal, i.e.,
apophyllite & rutile. Seven of the crystal classes are in the tetragonal system. A few of the forms that may be
exhibited by this system are illustrated below:

Tetragonal Prisms Tetragonal Prism & Pyramid Tetragonal Pyramid

3. Hexagonal – four axes, with one axis longer and at 90o to the other three which are equal and at 60o angles to
each other, i.e., quartz & calcite. Twelve of the crystal classes are in the hexagonal system. A few of the forms
that may be exhibited by this system are illustrated below:

Hexagonal Prism Hexagonal Hexagonal Pyramid

Prism & Pyramid
 Trigonal Rhomahedra Trigonal Trigonal
Schalenohedron Trapezohedron

4. Orthorhombic - Three unequal axes at 90o to each other, i.e. Marcasite. Three of the crystal classes are in the
orthorhombic system.

Orthorhoimbic Pinacoids Orthorhombic Prism & Orthorhombic Prism,

Basal Pinacoid Domes, & 2-Pinacoids

Orthorhombic Pyramid Orthorhombic Sphenoid & Prism

5. Monoclinic – three crystal axes of unequal length with the vertical and left to right axes at 90o with the third axes
inclined to the others, i.e., gypsum & spodumene. Three of the crystal classes are in the monoclinic system.

Monoclinic Domes and Pinacoid

6. Triclinic – three axes of unequal length all at oblique angles to each other, i.e., microcline feldspar (amazonite).
Two of the crystal classes are in the triclinic system.
 Triclinic 1 Triclinic 2 Triclinic 3

Cleavage

Breakage of a mineral specimen into smooth, flat, and in most instances highly reflective surfaces along planes of
structural weakness. Cleavage is related to structure, and is very diagnostic in identification of a
mineral's symmetry. The best example of cleavage is shown by mica when it is “cleaved” into thin reflective sheets.

Cleavage can be described as:

 Perfect Cleavage
 Biotite Mica

Perfect Cleavage Cont.

 Imperfect Cleavage

Beryl
 Sulfur

 Good Cleavage

Barite – Good in one direction (Prismatic), distinct in another direction (Basal)

 Distinct Cleavage

Celestite – distinct in prismatic direction

  Indistinct Cleavage
 Poor Cleavage

Additionally cleavage can be further subdivided as follows:

 Basal or pinacoidal cleavage occurs parallel to the base of a crystal. Basal cleavage is exhibited by the mica group
and by graphite.
 Cubic cleavage occurs parallel to the faces of a cube for a crystal with cubic symmetry. This is the source of the cubic
shape seen in crystals of ground table salt, the mineral halite. The mineral galena also typically exhibits perfect cubic
cleavage.
 Octahedral cleavage occurs on crystal planes forming octahedral shapes for a crystal with cubic
symmetry. Diamond and fluorite exhibit perfect octahedral cleavage.
 Dodecahedral cleavage occurs on crystal planes forming dodecahedra for a crystal with cubic symmetry.
 Rhombohedral cleavage occur parallel to the faces of a rhombohedron. Calcite and other carbonate minerals exhibit
perfect rhombohedral cleavage.
 Prismatic cleavage is parallel to vertical prisms. Cerussite and spodumene exhibit prismatic cleavage.

Fracture

Fracture applies to minerals that do not display cleavage and is reflective of the broken surface displayed by the
specimen. There are several types of fracture and they are described below.

 Conchoidal fracture is a curved breakage that resembles the concentric ripples of a mussel shell. It often occurs
in amorphous or fine-grained minerals such as flint, opal or obsidian, but may also occur in crystalline minerals
such as quartz.

 Subconchoidal fracture is similar to conchoidal fracture, but with less significant curvature as seen in magnetite
shown below.
 Earthy fracture is reminiscent of freshly broken soil. It is frequently seen in relatively soft, loosely bound
minerals, such as limonite shown below.

 Hackly fracture (also known as jagged fracture) is jagged, sharp and not even. It occurs when metals are torn,
and so is often en countered in native metals such as copper shown below.

 Splintery fracture comprises sharp elongated points. It is particularly seen in fibrous minerals such as chrysotile,
but may also occur in non-fibrous minerals such as pectolite shown below.

 Uneven fracture is a rough surface or one with random irregularities. It occurs in a wide range of minerals
including arsenopyrite, pyrite and magnetite.
Streak

The streak of a mineral refers to the color of the crushed mineral and is an indication of the “true color” of the mineral.
This is a very diagnostic tool for distinguishing many minerals as many have a distinct color when “streaked.” For
instance hematite will always give a reddish-brown streak that is very distinct. To test a minerals streak an unglazed
porcelain tile is used that is either white or black. The mineral is dragged across the plate with enough force to leave a
distinct streak of color. This color is the diagnostic one seeks with this method of testing. The color can them be
compared to numerous published lists of streak colors and the choice of species can then be narrowed down.

So easy even a child can do it!

Hardness

One of the more diagnostic physical properties of a mineral is its’ hardness or in other words a minerals resistance to
scratching. In mineralogy the MOHs hardness scale is used to determine the hardness of a mineral. This scale is a
relative scale in which each increase in hardness equates to the next mineral being approximately ten times harder than
the previous specimen. The scale is as follows with 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest:

1. Talc
2. Gypsum
3. Calcite
4. Fluorite
5. Apatite
6. Orthoclase
7. Quartz
8. Topaz
9. Corundum
10. Diamond

Several common items can be substituted for the minerals in this list and include:

1. Fingernail, easily scratches minerals with a hardness of approximately 2.5 and below (Talc,
gypsum, muscovite).
2. Copper penny or copper wire will scratch minerals with a hardness around 3 (Calcite).
3. A steel knife blade or a masonry nail will usually have a hardness between 4.5 and 5.5
depending on the quality of the knife.
4. Glass has a hardness of approximately 5 – 5.5 on the MOHs scale.
5. A steel file of good quality will have a hardness of around 6.5 – 7.5.
6. A sharpening stone will have a hardness that approximates that of corundum.

To test the hardness of a specimen one should find a suitable and unobtrusive spot on a mineral to perform the test
procedure. The scratching “tool” is applied against a smooth surface and with sufficient force dragged across the
surface to create (if possible) a small scratch. Removal of any residue and examination with a jeweler’s loupe or other
magnifier is then performed to determine if an actual scratch has been produced in the minerals surface. If a scratch
has been produced one then knows the mineral is softer than the tool used to create the scratch. A less hard tool can
then be used to repeat the test to narrow down the hardness to a range that will aid in identification.

Density
Also known as Specific Gravity (ρ = m/V),
Where: ρ = density, m = mass, and v = volume

Density is something that can be judged somewhat by hefting a specimen. A very dense specimen will feel
extraordinarily heavy. More precise measurements can be made by using one of several methods readily described on
the internet. (An easy method will be detailed in a separate post)
 Easy Method for Determining Density

Necessary Supplies/Equipment

1. Balance (scale) to weigh the specimen

2. Graduated cylinder of sufficient size to hold the specimen
3. Water

Procedure

1. Weigh a sample of your material.

2. Take a graduated cylinder and pour some water in it.
3. Record the volume of water.
4. Place a sample of your material in the water.
5. Record the volume again.
6. Subtract the first volume reading.
7. The difference is the volume of the sample.
8. Now you know its weight and volume, and you can figure out its density using the formula above.

Luster

Luster refers to the way light is reflected from a surface of a mineral and should not be confused with color. There are
several types of luster in the mineral kingdom and some of them are quite diagnostic and helpful in identification.
Primary types of luster include:

 Metallic, the luster of a metallic surface like steel, gold, silver – pyrite
o Nonmetallic
 Vitreous – glassy appearance - quartz
 Adamantine , brilliant oily luster – corundum and diamond
 Resinous or waxy – luster of a resin - sphalerite
 Pearly – apophyllite, orthoclase feldspar
 Silky – characteristic of fibrous or splintery minerals – gypsum, var., satin spar, and tremolite
Associated Minerals
While not a test in and of itself, there are certain minerals that are associated, that is found in close intimacy with each
other depending on the type of deposit a mineral comes from. For example in pneumatolitic (Hydrothermal) formations
which form under hydrous conditions of high temperature and pressure quartz and iron sulfide (pyrite) are intimately
associated with one another, that is they are commonly found together.

Helpful Links with Additional Information

1. Mineral Identification Key, Mineralogical Society of America,

http://www.minsocam.org/msa/collectors_corner/id/mineral_id_keyi1.htm#TOC
2. Mineral Properties: http://www.minerals.net/resource/Mineral_Properties.aspx
3. Luster – Photos: http://www.minsocam.org/msa/collectors_corner/id/mineral_id_keyi3.htm
4. Luster – Additional terminology: http://webmineral.com/help/Luster.shtml
5. GeoMan's Mineral ID Tests: http://jersey.uoregon.edu/~mstrick/MinRockID/MinTests.html
6. MOHs Scale of Hardness – Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardness
7. Fracture – Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fracture_(mineralogy)
8. Luster – Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lustre_(mineralogy)
9. Crystal Cleavage – Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleavage_(crystal)
10. Mineral Cleavage – MINOSCAM: http://www.minsocam.org/msa/collectors_corner/id/mineral_id_keyi6.htm
11. Minerals-Cleavage and Fracture – Brooklyn College:
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/grocha/mineral/cleavage.html
12. Crystal Habit – Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_habit
13. Crystalline Growth: Crystal Habits – All About Gemstones: http://www.allaboutgemstones.com/crystal_habit.html
14. The Hardness of Minerals and rocks - Dr. William S. Cordua, University of Wisconsin:
http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/hardness1.html
15. Introduction to Minerals – Emporia State University, KS: http://academic.emporia.edu/abersusa/go324/mineral.htm
16. Indentifying Minerals by Streak – About.com Geology:
http://geology.about.com/od/mineral_ident/ig/streak/streakplates.htm
17. Illinois State Geological Survey – Using Characteristics of Minerals to Identify them: http://www.isgs.illinois.edu/maps-data-
pub/publications/rocks-min/char.shtml
18. Manual of Petrographic Methods, Johannsen, Albert 1918,;
http://books.google.com/books?id=ENpLAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Manual+of+petrographic+metho
ds#v=onepage&q=Manual%20of%20petrographic%20methods&f=false