The physical characteristics of minerals include traits which are used to identify and describe mineral species. These traits include color, streak, luster, density, hardness, cleavage, fracture, tenacity, and crystal habit.
Minerals can be described by various physical properties which relate to their chemical structure and composition. Common distinguishing characteristics include crystal structure and habit, hardness, lustre, diaphaneity, colour, streak, tenacity, cleavage, fracture, parting, and specific gravity. This physical property is controlled by the chemical composition and crystalline structure of a mineral. A mineral's hardness is not necessarily constant for all sides, which is a function of its structure; crystallographic weakness renders some directions softer than others. Properties of Minerals. The following physical properties of minerals can be easily used to identify a mineral: 1  Color. 2  Streak. 3  Hardness. 4  Cleavage or Fracture. 5  Crystalline Structure. 6  Diaphaneity or Amount of Transparency. 7  Tenacity. 8  Magnetism. 9  Luster. 10  Odor. 11  Taste. 12  Specific Gravity. The Physical properties of minerals are used by Mineralogists to help determine the identity of a specimen. Some of the tests can be performed easily in the field, while others require laboratory equipment. The following physical properties of minerals can be easily used to identify a mineral: 1  Color. 2  Streak. 3  Hardness. 4  Cleavage or Fracture. 5  Crystalline Structure. 6  Diaphaneity or Amount of Transparency. 7  Tenacity. 8  Magnetism. 9  Luster. 10  Odor. 11  Taste. 12  Specific Gravity. We will first discuss each of the physical properties that can be used, then develop a methodical approach to the identification of minerals using these physical properties. Among the properties we will discuss are: crystal habit, cleavage, hardness, density, luster, streak, color, tenacity, magnetism, and taste. The use of physical properties to identify minerals will be necessary for the second lab exam, so you should become very familiar with using physical properties and the mineral identification charts to identify hand specimens of minerals. 1. The physical characteristics of minerals include traits which are used to identify and describe mineral species. These traits include color, streak, luster, density, hardness, cleavage, fracture, tenacity, and crystal habit.  A mineral is a naturally occurring substance, representable by a chemical formula, that is usually solid and inorganic, and has a crystal structure. It is different from a rock, which can be an aggregate of minerals or non-minerals and does not have a specific chemical composition. This physical property is controlled by the chemical composition and crystalline structure of a mineral. A mineral's hardness is not necessarily constant for all sides, which is a function of its structure; crystallographic weakness renders some directions softer than others. Determination of the actual chemical composition and crystalline structure of a mineral is difficult without the proper equipment. In an introductory level lab it is impossible for us to determine these two aspects of a mineral. Fortunately, these two aspects determine a mineral's physical properties.  Physical Properties of Minerals. The physical properties of a mineral depend on the kind of atoms it is composed of and, more critically, the way these atoms fit together to form the mineral's crystal structure.  There are different ways for people to identify minerals. A few physical properties that are used include hardness, luster and streak color. Clicking on the Physical Properties of Minerals title will open up an interactive slideshow that introduces students to some physical properties of minerals. This interactive slide show exemplifying different physical properties used to identify minerals is a great way to introduce the concept
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral http://www.rocksandminerals4u.com/properties_of_minerals.html http://www.rocksandminerals4u.com/properties_of_minerals.html http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/eens211/physprop.htm http://dave.ucsc.edu/myrtreia/physical_character.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral http://facweb.bhc.edu/academics/science/harwoodr/geol101/labs/minerals/ http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/permanent-exhibitions/earth-and-planetary-sciences-halls/harry-frank-guggenheim-hall-of-minerals/properties-of-minerals http://earthsciencedl.weebly.com/physical-properties-of-minerals.html
what are the physical properties of minerals