Physical Properties of Minerals

Which mineral property is being shown here?

• luster
• hardness
• cleavage
• streak

the way minerals reflect light

• Streak
• Luster
• Hardness
• Cleavage

the ability of a mineral to resist scratching

• Streak
• Fracture
• Hardness
• Cleavage

shiny minerals that are good conductors of heat and electricity

• Nonmetalic
• Metallic
• Luster
• Cleavage

True or False: A mineral is a living substance found in nature.

• True
• False

______ is the observable tint/look of a mineral.

• Luster
• Streak
• Hardness
• Color

Which is NOT a property used for identifying minerals?

• Streak
• Hardness
• Taste
• Color

Hardness is a property that helps identify minerals. Scientists use a scale of 1-10 to show the hardness of a mineral. What number would be given to the hardest?

• 1
• 5
• 6
• 10

The most obvious, but also least useful property when identifying minerals

• Streak
• Luster
• Cleavage
• Color

Hardness is a property that helps identify minerals. Scientists use a scale of 1-10 to show the hardness of a mineral. What number would be given to the softest?

• 1
• 3
• 5
• 10