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*Physical Properties of Minerals
Following is a description of some of the physical properties used to identify minerals:
*Smell
>> Earthy
>> Sour
>> Sweet
>> Rotten Egg
*Luster
>> Glassy - Vitreous Shines Like Glass
>> Earthy - Chalky Dull
>> Metallic Looks like metal
>> Waxy, Silky Pearly Has a muted shine
*Streak
Color the mineral leaves when scratched across a ceramic plate (unglazed porcelain)
*Feel (Texture of the mineral)
>> Gritty Sandy
>> Powdery Earthy or Chalky
>> Smooth Glass-like
>> Smooth & Sticky Waxy
>> Sharp Metallic

*Cleavage
the pattern of breaking into regular planes		   *Fracture
the mineral breaks in an irregular, uneven manner

*Specific Gravity
density or heft – (Does the specimen feel heavy for its size?)

*Magnetic
attracts to a magnet

*Chemical
reacts to hydrochloric acid (fizzes)
*Hardness (Moh's Hardness Scale)
Scale Mineral Scratched By
1 --
2 Fingernail
3 --
4 Penny (copper coin)
5 Steel (knife blade, nail)
6 Glass
7-10 Will scratch steel or glass
*Color
white, black, gray, green, yellow, blue, red, orange, brown, etc
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