How to Identify Minerals: 10 Steps to Mineral Identification
By Andrew Alden, About.com Guide
Streak is the color of the finely crushed mineral. Streak is somewhat more reliable than color and is essential for a few minerals. You'll need a streak plate or something like it. A broken kitchen tile or even a handy sidewalk can do. Scratch your mineral across the streak plate with a scribbling motion. (Learn more about streak)
Prev
- Step 1: Pick Your Mineral
- Step 2: Luster
- Step 3: Hardness
- Step 4: Color
- Step 5: Streak
- Step 6: Crystal Form and Mineral Habit
- Step 7: Cleavage and Fracture
- Step 8: Magnetism
- Step 9: Other Mineral Properties
- Step 10: Look It Up
Learning Mineral Properties
More Mineral Properties
Putting Names to Minerals
The Rock-Forming MineralsThe Metallic MineralsThe Mineral Picture Gallery
Explore Geology
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