Properties Used to Identify Minerals

Colour
Generally, colour alone is not diagnostic in mineral identification because colour can be highly
variable. Some minerals, such as quartz, calcite, or fluorite, can occur in almost every possible
colour due to impurities in the chemical makeup of the mineral. However, some minerals can be
easily identified by their diagnostic colours, such as pyrite (fool’s gold – brassy coloured) or azurite
(deep blue). Colour can be used to narrow down possible mineral identification but should not be
relied upon as the sole property for identification. An example image below shows the major
different varieties of the mineral quartz, and you can see, they are all very different colours,
showing how colour is not a diagnostic property for the mineral quartz.

Image from https://www.geologyin.com/2016/04/major-varieties-of-quartz.html

Hardness
The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is a qualitative scale from 1 to 10 characterizing scratch
resistance of common minerals through the ability of harder material to scratch softer material.
Hardness is tested using a variety of objects with known Mohs hardness:
• Fingernail  2.5
• Copper nail  3
• Glass plate  5.5
• Steel nail  6.5
• Porcelain plate  7
The hardness of possible unknown minerals is listed in the guidebook below. There are lots of free
videos on YouTube demonstrating how to test hardness. Three examples are
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MorDV1LGTqQ,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Eizqc2NRz4, and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJOqcdbWFw0.
Streak
Streak is the colour of powder a softer mineral leaves behind when dragged across a porcelain
plate. Many minerals have a different colour when powdered than they do in crystalline or massive
form. Non-silicate minerals typically leave a coloured streak, whereas silicate minerals typically
have a white streak.
There are lots of free videos on YouTube demonstrating how to test the streak of a mineral. One
example is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngM-xww9Aps.
Cleavage/Fracture
Cleavage describes how a crystal breaks when subjected to stress on a particular plane. If part of
the crystal breaks due to stress and the broken piece still has a smooth plane and reflects light, the
mineral has cleavage. Minerals may also fracture, usually meaning there are no distinct cleavage
planes. A common example of fracture is the mineral quartz, which exhibits conchoidal fracture.
Examples of cleavage types can be seen below:
• Basal, or one direction of cleavage (like pages in a book)  Biotite
• 2 directions of cleavage at 90o  Feldspar
• 3 directions of cleavage at 90o (cubic)  Halite
• 3 directions of cleavage at 60o and 120o (rhombohedral – not at 90o)  Calcite
• 2 directions of cleavage at 56o and 124o (prismatic- not at 90o)  Hornblende
• 4 directions of cleavage (octahedral)  Fluorite
• 6 directions of cleavage (dodecahedral)  Sphalerite
Note: minerals with 4 or 6 directions of cleavage are not common.
There are lots of free videos on YouTube demonstrating how to identify the cleavage planes in a
mineral. Two examples are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SGC3VBQZY0 and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAg5JjKdKqg.
Image from: https://sternberg.fhsu.edu/research-collections/geology/mineral-classification-page.html

Lustre
Lustre is the overall sheen of a mineral’s surface. Very simply, lustre can be grouped into metallic
lustre – looking like polished metal, or non-metallic lustre – which is further broken down into other
types such as vitreous (glassy), earthy, dull, silky, resinous, pearly, etc. Some typical lustre names
are listed below:
• Metallic  Pyrite
• Vitreous (non-metallic)  Quartz
• Earthy (non-metallic)  Hematite
• Pearly (non-metallic)  Talc
There are lots of free videos on YouTube demonstrating how to identify the lustre of a mineral. Two
examples are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkZOdng2oJk and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuJN-H52mGM.
Crystal System
A crystal system is the shape that a mineral grows in, based on its internal chemical composition
and crystal structure. Each crystal system is based on the angles and intersection of a 3-point axis.
Some mineral shapes are listed below: Images modified from https://www.geologyin.com/2019/10/crystal-habits-and-forms.html

• Cube  Halite

• Rhomb-dodecahedron  Garnet

• Pentagon-dodecahedron (Pyritohedron) Pyrite

• Scalenohedron  Calcite

• Rhombohedron  Calcite
Image from: https://opengeology.org/Mineralogy/10-crystal-morphology-and-symmetry/
Example Mineral Identification
The section below is a step-by-step example of the process used to identify an unknown mineral
specimen, known as “UKN” utilizing the properties discussed above.
LUSTRE:
• UKN has a non-metallic lustre. This means that UKN is not the mineral graphite, hematite,
magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena or copper.
HARDNESS:
• UKN is scratched across a glass plate, and UKN does not make a scratch on the glass
plate. We now know that UKN is softer than the glass plate, or softer than 5.5 on Moh’s
scale.
• We can then scratch UKN with a copper nail, and the copper nail does not scratch UKN.
This means that UKN is harder than the copper nail, or 3 on Moh’s scale.
• Therefore, UKN has a hardness between 3 and 5.5. We can use this information to compare
to the known hardness of minerals in the below guidebook to narrow down the possible
identity of UKN. Possible mineral identification for UKN is fluorite, malachite, celestite,
azurite, apophyllite. To narrow this down, we must test other properties.
COLOUR:
• UKN is blue in colour. This narrows down our list of possible mineral identification for UKN to
fluorite, celestite, azurite, and apophyllite.
STREAK:
• UKN is scratched along the surface of a porcelain streak plate. UKN does not appear to
leave a streak. However, knowing that the hardness is less than 5.5, or in other words, UKN
is softer than the streak plate, a streak should have been left behind. Upon closer
inspection, you see that a white streak was left behind on the porcelain streak plate. This
narrows down our list of possible mineral identification for UKN to fluorite, celestite, and
apophyllite.
CLEAVAGE/CRYSTAL SYSTEM:
• UKN appears as octahedral crystals, but at first it is unknown if these specimens are
exhibiting growth features (i.e. the mineral grew as octahedrons) or cleavage planes (i.e. the
mineral was broken, resulting in this shape). From referring to your chart, you recall that the
only mineral listed as having octahedral cleavage is fluorite.
Based on the above information, you are able to identify that UKN is the mineral fluorite!
A free video demonstrating mineral identification strategies is available on YouTube, and the link is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxpnvDAkczM.
 Mystery Minerals Guidebook
Minerals
The below table shows the minerals that could be provided in Mystery Minerals, and their
properties, with key properties underlined.
1. Talc - Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
Colour: white, grey, pale green, pale pink
Hardness: 1
Streak: white
Cleavage: basal perfect
Lustre: greasy to dull, pearly, soapy feel
System: monoclinic
Source: https://www.britannica.com/science/talc
2. Gypsum (selenite) - CaSO4 . 2H2O
Colour: colourless to white; often tinged
other hues due to impurities; yellow, tan,
blue, pink, dark brown, reddish brown, or
gray
Hardness: 2
Streak: white
Cleavage: 3 directions, rhombohedral
Source: https://www.minerals.net/mineral/gypsum.aspx
Lustre: vitreous to pearly
System: monoclinic
3. Calcite - CaCO3
Colour: any colour
Hardness: 3
Cleavage: perfect rhombohedral
Lustre: vitreous to pearly on cleavage
surfaces
Streak: white
System: rhombohedral
Other: effervesces in HCl Source: https://www.mineralauctions.com/items/large-calcite-
iceland-spar-cleavage-81303
Other: Clear varieties show double
refraction of images under the specimen
4. Fluorite - CaF2
Colour: green, purple, blue, yellow, etc.
Hardness: 4
Streak: white
Cleavage: four directions – octahedral
Lustre: vitreous
System: isometric
Source:
https://www.deepearthtreasures.com/products/madagascan-
green-fluorite-natural-specimen-32mm-22g
5. Quartz - SiO2
Colour: any colour
Hardness: 7
Streak: none
Fracture: conchoidal
Lustre: vitreous
System: trigonal
Varieties: amethyst (purple), smoky
(black-brown), rose (pink), citrine
(yellow)

Source: https://www.minerals.net/mineral/quartz.aspx

Source: https://canada.michaels.com/en/rough-rose-quartz-by-
ashland/10558676.html
6. Microcline - KAlSi3O8
Colour: usually white or pink, can be
blue or green (amazonite)
Hardness: 6
Streak: white
Cleavage: 2 directions of cleavage at 90o
Lustre: vitreous
System: triclinic
Other: will show exsolution
Source: https://www.sandatlas.org/microcline/

7. Albite - NaAlSi3O8
Colour: white or grey or brown
(iridescent albite is called peristerite or
moonstone)
Hardness: 6-6.5
Streak: white
Cleavage: 2 directions at ~90o
Lustre: vitreous, typically pearly on
cleavages
System: triclinic Source: https://www.boreal.com/store/product/8865926/albite
8. Hornblende - (Ca,Na)2-3
(Mg,Fe,Al)5Si6(Si,Al)2O22(OH)2
Colour: generally black or dark green
Hardness: 5-6
Streak: pale grey, grey-white, white
Cleavage: 56o / 124o
Lustre: vitreous to dull
System: monoclinic Source: https://www.eiscolabs.com/products/esng0019
9. Augite - (Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al)(Si,Al)2O6
Colour: dark green to black
Hardness: 5.5-6
Streak: greenish white
Cleavage: 2 directions at 90o
Lustre: vitreous, resinous to dull
System: monoclinic
Source: https://geology.com/minerals/augite.shtml
10. Muscovite - KAl2Si3AlO10(OH)2
Colour: colourless/transparent to pale
greenish
Hardness: 2-2.5
Streak: white
Cleavage: basal
Lustre: vitreous, silky, or pearly
System: monoclinic

Source: http://nevada-outback-
gems.com/mineral_information/Mica_muscovite_mineral_info.ht
m
11. Biotite - K(Mg,Fe)3Si3AlO10(OH)2
Colour: black
Hardness: 2-3
Streak: white
Cleavage: basal
Lustre: vitreous
System: monoclinic Source: https://geologyscience.com/minerals/biotite/
12. Olivine - (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
Colour: green
Hardness: 6.5-7
Streak: colourless or white
Cleavage: conchoidal
Lustre: glassy
System: orthorhombic Source: https://www.geologyin.com/2016/12/study-of-olivine-
provides-new-data-for.html
13. Graphite - C
Colour: steel grey to black
Hardness: 1-2
Streak: grey (like a pencil)
Cleavage: basal
Lustre: greasy, metallic to dull
System: hexagonal
Other: is what pencil lead is made of
Source: https://geologyscience.com/minerals/graphite/
14. Halite - NaCl
Colour: colourless, white, greyish,
blueish, yellowish, red, etc.
Hardness: 2.5
Streak: white
Cleavage: cubic, perfect, 3 at 90o,
conchoidal fracture
Lustre: vitreous
System: isometric
Other: tastes salty, water soluble, Source: https://www.le-comptoir-geologique.com/halite-en-
slippery halite-ref-z01-09.html
15. Hematite - Fe2O3
Colour: red or steel grey (specular
hematite)
Hardness: 5-6
Streak: red-brown
Cleavage: none, may show partings
Lustre: earthy-metallic
System: hexagonal

Source: https://geology.com/minerals/hematite.shtml
16. Magnetite - Fe3O4
Colour: iron black
Hardness: 5.5-6
Streak: iron black
Cleavage: none, may show partings
Lustre: metallic
System: isometric
Other: very magnetic
Source: https://geology.com/minerals/magnetite.shtml
17. Pyrite - FeS2
Colour: pale brass yellow; lack of tarnish
vs. chalcopyrite
Hardness: 6-6.5
Streak: greenish-black to brownish-black
Cleavage: conchoidal to uneven
Lustre: metallic
System: isometric
Source: https://stock.adobe.com/ca/search?k=pyrite
18. Chalcopyrite - CuFeS2
Colour: brass yellow, often with slightly
iridescent tarnish
Hardness: 3.5-4
Streak: greenish black
Cleavage: poor – not well defined
Lustre: metallic
System: tetragonal

Source: https://geology.com/minerals/chalcopyrite.shtml
19. Sphalerite - ZnS
Colour: brown to yellowish, reddish,
black
Hardness: 3.5-4
Streak: brownish white, pale yellow
Cleavage: dodecahedral
Lustre: non-metallic to resinous, to sub-
metallic in opaque specimens
System: isometric
Source: https://www.virtualmicroscope.org/content/sphalerite
20. Galena - PbS
Colour: lead-grey; opaque
Hardness: 2.5
Streak: lead-grey
Cleavage: cubic
Lustre: bright metallic
System: isometric, perfect
Other: very heavy (Specific Gravity =
Source: https://www.britannica.com/science/galena-mineral
7.6)
21. Malachite - Cu2CO3(OH)2
Colour: bright green to blackish green
Hardness: 3.5-4
Streak: light green
Cleavage: Perfect in one direction,
conchoidal fracture
Lustre: adamantine, vitreous, silky, dull, Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachite

earthy
System: monoclinic
22. Copper - Cu
Colour: copper-red to brown, tarnishes
green
Hardness: 3
Streak: copper-red
Fracture: Hackly
Lustre: metallic
System: isometric

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper
23. Sodalite – Na8Al6Si6O24Cl2
Colour: royal blue, white veining
common
Hardness: 5.5-6
Streak: white
Fracture: Conchoidal
Lustre: dull, vitreous, greasy
System: cubic

Source: https://www.mindat.org/min-3701.html
24. Celestite – SrSO4
Colour: white, gray, pale blue
Hardness: 3-3.5
Streak: white
Cleavage: Three directions – splits into
thin, flat fragments
Lustre: vitreous, pearly
System: orthorhombic
Other: Tends to crystallize as geodes Source: https://www.madagascandirect.com/article/1/Celestite/
25. Lepidolite –
K(Li,Al)3(Al,Si,Rb)4O10(F,OH)2
Colour: pink, light purple, purple, rose-
red, violet-gray, yellowish, white,
colourless
Hardness: 2.5-3
Streak: white
Cleavage: basal Source: https://geology.com/minerals/lepidolite.shtml
Lustre: vitreous, pearly
System: monoclinic
26. Azurite – Cu3(CO3)2
Colour: azure-blue, dark to pale blue
Hardness: 3.5-4
Streak: light blue
Cleavage: perfect in one direction,
conchoidal fracture
Lustre: vitreous
System: monoclinic Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azurite
27. Garnet - A3B2(SiO4)3
where A is a divalent cation (Fe2+, Ca2+,
Mg2+, Mn2+) and B is a trivalent cation
(Fe3+, Al3+, Cr3+).

Colour: any colour

Hardness: 6.5-7.5
Streak: white
Fracture: conchoidal
Lustre: vitreous
System: isometric (rhomb- Source: https://e-rocks.com/item/jwt199949/garnet-var-
dodecahedron) almandine
Varieties: almandine, grossular,
uvarovite, pyrope

Source: https://www.abijoux.com/grossular-garnet-19-06-ct.htm
28. Apatite – Ca5(PO4)
Colour: transparent to translucent,
usually green, less often colourless,
yellow, blue to violet, pink, brown
Hardness: 5
Streak: white
Fracture: conchoidal
Lustre: vitreous
Source: https://www.britannica.com/science/apatite
System: hexagonal
29. Topaz – Al2SiO4(F,OH)2
Colour: colourless, white, blue, brown,
orange, gray, yellow, yellowish brown,
green, pink, reddish pink, red
Hardness: 8
Streak: none
Cleavage: perfect basal cleavage
Source: https://monolisadesigns.com/blogs/gemstones/the-
Lustre: vitreous history-behind-a-topaz-gemstone
System: orthorhombic
30. Apophyllite - Ca4KFSi8O20 · 8H2O
Colour: white, colourless; also blue,
green, brown, yellow, pink, violet
Hardness: 4.5-5
Streak: white
Cleavage: perfect in one direction
Lustre: vitreous, pearly
System: tetragonal
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophyllite
31. Epidote - Al2Ca2FeH2O13Si3
Colour: pistachio-green, yellow-green,
greenish black, brownish-green, green,
black
Hardness: 6-7
Streak: greyish white
Cleavage: perfect in one direction
Lustre: vitreous to resinous
System: monoclinic Source: https://www.britannica.com/science/epidote
32. Corundum - Al2O3
Colour: colourless, gray, golden-brown,
brown, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow,
green, blue, violet
Hardness: 9
Streak: none
Fracture: conchoidal Source: https://geology.com/minerals/corundum.shtml

Lustre: adamantine to vitreous

System: trigonal (hexagonal prism)
Varieties: ruby (red), sapphire (any
colour besides red)

Source:
https://stock.adobe.com/ch_fr/search?k=sapphire+raw&asset_id
=298633930
33. Labradorite – (Ca,Na)(Al,Si)4O8
Colour: grey-white, greenish, blue,
yellow
Hardness: 6-6.5
Streak: white
Cleavage: 2 at 90o
Lustre: vitreous to pearly
System: triclinic
Other: displays iridescent blue/green
flashes

Source: https://www.mindat.org/min-246.html
https://www.mindat.org/photo-411944.html
34. Anorthite - CaAl2Si2O8
Colour: typically gray
Hardness: 6
Streak: white
Cleavage: 2 at 90o
Lustre: vitreous
System: triclinic

Source:https://www.weinrichmineralsinc.com/products/anorthite-
4271506.php