This table lists the most important features of the basic rock-forming minerals.
| Mineral | Usual Color | Crystals | Cleavages | Hardness | Diagnostic |
| Biotite | Black | Rare | 1 perfect | 2–3 | Cleavage |
| Calcite | White | Common | 3 good | 3 | Acid fizz |
| Dolomite | White | Common | 3 good | 4 | Acid no fizz |
| Feldspar | White or pink | Common | 2 good | 6–6.5 | Hardness |
| Hornblende | Black | Common | 2 (60/120°) | 5–6 | Cleavage |
| Muscovite | White | Rare | 1 perfect | 2–3 | Cleavage |
| Olivine | Green | Common | 1 fair | 6.5–7 | Color |
| Pyroxene | Dark | Rare | 2 (87/93°) | 5–6.5 | Cleavage |
| Quartz | White | Common | None | 7 | Fracture |
