Properties

OPTICAL PROPERTIES

COLOR

Can vary across the same type of mineral, on account of impurities. This is why color alone is not a very useful property for distinguishing minerals.

LUSTER

Indicates how much the superfice of a mineral can reflect light.

FLUORESCENSE

Is a propertie of a mineral in wich light is given of upon exposure to ultraviolet light.

BIREFRINGENCE

Is the property of a material os splitting a ray of light into two rays as it passes through. thus, a double image is creates when we look through a birefringent mineral.

TRANSPARENCY

Is the ability of a mineral to let light through it. Only trasparent minerals allow us to distinguish the shape of objects behind them.

MECHANICAL PROPERTIES

HARDNESS

Is the resistance of a mineral to scratching. This property is measured according to the Mohs scale, which is made up of a set of 10 minerals listed in increasing order of hardness.

BRITTLENESS

Is the ability of a mineral to break without deforming significantly.

PLASTICITY

Is the ability of a mineral to be molded into other shapes without breaking when a force is ecerted on it. When the force is no longer applied, this mineral retains the new shape.

ELASTICITY

Is the ability of a mineral to deform without breaking when a force is exerted on it, but recover its original shape when the force is no longer exerted.

CLEAVAGE

Is the property of a mineral to break into regularly-shaped fragments with flat surfaces.

PHYSICALS PROPERTIES

MAGNETISM

Is the ability of certain minerals to behave like a magnet. Magnetic minerals are attracted by other magnets, but they also attract metals such as iron and nickel.

ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY

Is the ability of a minerals to conduct electric current. Some minerals are better conductors than others, whereas sime insulating mienrals do not conduct electrical current at all.

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Reactivity with acids

ome minerals react chemically with acidic subtances producing, among other products, carbon dioxide (CO2).

Solublity

Is the ability of a mineral to dissolve in water and producehomogeneus mixture or solution.