Identifying Minerals

Front

What state of matter are all minerals?

Back

Solid

Front

How well a mineral reflects light is called?

Back

Luster

Front

What are the two types of luster?

Back

Metallic and Nonmetallic

Front

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

Back

Streak

Front

What is the most obvious, but least useful, property when identifying minerals?

Back

Color

Front

What is the term for the way a mineral breaks along flat surfaces?

Back

Cleavage

Front

What property measures a mineral's resistance to being scratched?

Back

Hardness

Front

What is the term for the color of a mineral's powder?

Back

Streak

Front

What is the difference between metallic and nonmetallic luster?

Back

Metallic luster shines like metal, while nonmetallic luster does not.

Front

What is the Mohs scale used for?

Back

To rank the hardness of minerals.