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Color

The appearance of a mineral that may change depending on the surface.

Streak

The color of a mineral in powdered form, more reliable than color for identification.

Hardness

A mineral's resistance to scratching.

Cleavage

A mineral's tendency to break along smooth surfaces in certain directions.

Crystalline Structure or Habit

The ideal shape of crystal faces, requiring ideal growth conditions.

Diaphaneity

The ability of a mineral to allow light to pass through, affected by its chemical makeup.

Transparency

The clarity with which light passes through a mineral, categorized as transparent, translucent, or opaque.

Luster

The way light is reflected off a mineral's surface.

Tenacity

A mineral's reaction to stress, including brittleness, malleability, ductility, flexibility, and sectility.

Brittleness

A property where a mineral turns into powder when stressed.

Malleability

A property where a mineral can be flattened by pounding.

Ductility

A property where a mineral can be stretched into wire.

Flexible but Inelastic

A property where minerals bend but remain in the new position.

Flexible and Elastic

A property where minerals bend and return to their original position.

Sectility

The ability of minerals to be sliced by a knife.

Mohs Scale

A scale introduced in 1822 by Friedrich Mohs, ranking ten minerals based on their relative hardness.