Earth Science (Minerals 3)

Quartz

Mineral class: Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Greater than 2.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Conchoidal fracture

Color: Colourless, rose, purple, black

Streak colour: None

Lustre: Non-metallic (Light)

Orthoclase (potassium feldspar)

Mineral class: Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Greater than 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: 2 plane of cleavage at 90 degrees

Color: Salmon pink

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-metallic (Light)

Albite (plagioclase feldspar)

Mineral class: Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Greater than 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: two plane of cleavage at 90 degrees

Color: White and light grey

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-metallic (Light)

Biotite (Mica)

Mineral class: Ferro-Magnesian Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Around 2.5

Cleavage/Fracture: One plane of cleavage

Color: Brown, brownish black

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Dark)

Muscovite (Mica)

Mineral class: Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Less than 2.5

Cleavage/Fracture: One plane of cleavage

Color: Colourless, white, off-white, brown-yellow

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Chlorite

Mineral class: Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Around 2.5

Cleavage/Fracture: One plane of cleavage (rarely shows)

Color: Green

Streak colour: White, palegrey

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Dark)

Talc

Mineral class: Ferro-magnesian Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Less than 2.5

Cleavage/Fracture: One plane of cleavage (rarely shows)

Color: pale green, white

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Augite

Mineral class: Ferro-magnesian Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Around 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Two planes of cleavage at 90 degrees

Color: Dark green black

Streak colour: White, pale grey

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Dark)

Hornblende

Mineral class: Ferro-magnesian Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Around 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Two planes of cleavage NOT at 90 degrees

Color: Dark Green Black

Streak colour: White, pale grey

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Dark)

Olivine

Mineral class: Ferro-Magnesian Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Greater than 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Irregular fracture

Color": Olive green

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Garnet (Almadine)

Mineral class: Ferro-magnesian Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Greater than 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Irregular fracture

Color: Reddish brown, green, yellow

Streak colour: None

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Dark)

Diagnostic property: Soccer ball shaped

Kyanite

Mineral class: Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Greater than 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: 2 planes of cleavage at 90 degrees

Color: Light blue

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Diagnostic property: Blade like crystal structure

Staurolite

Mineral class: Ferro-Magnesian Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Greater than 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: 1 plane of cleavage (rarely shows)

Color: Brown, reddish brown

Streak colour: None

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Dark)

Diagnostic property: Twins and Crossing

Pyrite

Mineral class: Sulfide

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Greater than 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Conchoidal fracture

Colour: Brassy, light gold

Streak colour: Dark Grey

Lustre: Metallic

Galena

Mineral class: Sulfide

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Around 2.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Three planes of cleavage at 90 degrees

Color: Dark Grey

Streak colour: Dark grey

Lustre: Metallic

Chalcopyrite

Mineral class: Sulfide

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Between 2.5 and 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Irregular fracture

Color: Greenish-yellow

Streak colour: Dark Grey

Lustre: Metallic

Magnetite

Mineral class: Oxide

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Around 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Irregular fracture

Streak colour: Dark grey

Lustre: Metallic

Hematite

Mineral class: Oxide

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Around 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Irregular fracture

Color: Silver, Grey

Streak colour: Reddish-brown

Lustre: Metallic

Gypsum

Mineral class: Sulfate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Less than 2.5

Cleavage/Fracture: One plane of cleavage

Color: Colourless, white

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Halite

Mineral class: Halide

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Between 2.5 and 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Three planes of cleavage at 90 degrees

Color: Colourless

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Sylvite

Mineral class: Halide

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Between 2.5 and 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Three planes of cleavage at 90 degrees

Color: Red, colourless

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Fluorite

Mineral class: Halide

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Between 2.5 and 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Four planes of cleavage NOT at 90 degrees

Color: Colourless, white, yellow, pink

Streak colour: White
Diagnostic property: Fluorescence

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Graphite

Mineral class: Native Element

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Less than 2.5

Cleavage/Fracture: One plane of cleavage (Rarely shows)

Color: Dark Grey

Streak colour: Dark Grey

Lustre: Metallic

Copper

Mineral class: Native Element

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Between 2.5 and 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Irregular fracture

Color: Orange-brown

Streak colour: Orange-brown

Lustre: Metallic

Calcite

Mineral class: Carbonate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Between 2.5 and 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Three planes of cleavage, NOT at 90 degrees

Calcite: Colourless, white, yellow, pink

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Definitional property: Reacts with Acid

Dolomite

Mineral class: Carbonate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Between 2.5 and 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Three planes of cleavage, NOT at 90 degrees

Color: White, reddish-brown, grey

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Apatite

Mineral class: Phosphate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Around 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: Irregular fracture

Color: Green, blue, brown, yellow

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Diagnostic property: Hexagonal

Labradorite

Mineral class: Silicate

Hardness on the Mohs Scale: Greater than 5.5

Cleavage/Fracture: 2 planes cleavage at 90 degrees

Color: Grey to dark grey

Streak colour: White

Lustre: Non-Metallic (Light)

Diagnostic property: Blue-green irridescence