6 Characteristics
To identify rocks and minerals, there are 6 different characteristics of a rock or mineral.
These 6 are:
These 6 are:
1.) Crystal Structure
- a crystal has straight edges, flat sides, and regular angels
2.) Hardness
- the minerals resistance to being scratched
- the scale used to measure this is called the Moh`s Hardness Scale
- minerals are rated from 1 to 10
- the minerals resistance to being scratched
- the scale used to measure this is called the Moh`s Hardness Scale
- minerals are rated from 1 to 10
3.) Colour
- another way to help identify a mineral, but colour alone, can`t
- another way to help identify a mineral, but colour alone, can`t
4.) Streak
- the colour of the powered form of the mineral
- you can see the streak of a mineral on a unglazed porcelain tile
- a porclain tile has a hardness value of 7
- if the mineral is harder than 7 it will scratch the porcelain tile
- the colour of the powered form of the mineral
- you can see the streak of a mineral on a unglazed porcelain tile
- a porclain tile has a hardness value of 7
- if the mineral is harder than 7 it will scratch the porcelain tile
5.) Lustre
- if the rock or mineral is metallic or non-metallic
- metallic means shiny, like metal
- non-metallic means dull, like tree bark
- if the rock or mineral is metallic or non-metallic
- metallic means shiny, like metal
- non-metallic means dull, like tree bark