MODIFIED Mineral Properties Flashcard

Front

What is the least useful property when identifying minerals?

Back

Color is often considered the least useful property for identifying minerals because many minerals can share the same color.

Front

Which mineral property is being shown when a mineral leaves a mark on a surface?

Back

Streak is the property that describes the color of the powder left by a mineral when it is scraped across a surface.

Front

What term describes the way a mineral reflects light?

Back

Luster refers to the way a mineral shines or reflects light.

Front

What is the ability of a mineral to resist scratching called?

Back

Hardness is the property that indicates a mineral's resistance to scratching, measured by Moh's scale.

Front

How do you calculate the density of a mineral?

Back

Density is calculated by dividing the mass of the mineral by its volume.

Front

What is the Moh's scale used for?

Back

The Moh's scale is used to rank the hardness of minerals from 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond).

Front

What is the difference between luster and streak?

Back

Luster describes how a mineral reflects light, while streak refers to the color of the powder left when the mineral is scratched.

Front

Why is color not a reliable property for mineral identification?

Back

Color can be misleading as many minerals can appear in various colors due to impurities.

Front

What is a common method to determine a mineral's hardness?

Back

A common method is to scratch the mineral against a reference material of known hardness.

Front

What does a high luster indicate about a mineral?

Back

A high luster indicates that the mineral reflects a lot of light, often appearing shiny.