Physical Properties of Quartz
Chemical
Classification
silicate
Color
Quartz occurs in virtually every color. Common
colors are clear, white, gray, purple, yellow,
brown, black, pink, green, red.
Streak
colorless (harder than the streak plate)
Luster
vitreous
Diaphaneity
transparent to translucent
Cleavage
none - typically breaks with a conchoidal fracture
Mohs Hardness
Specific Gravity
2.6 to 2.7
Diagnostic
Properties
conchoidal fracture, glassy luster, hardness
Chemical
Composition
SiO2
Crystal System
hexagonal
Uses
glass making, abrasive, foundry sand, hydraulic
fracturing proppant, gemstones
Physical Properties of Hematite
Chemical
Classification
oxide
Color
black to steel-gray to silver; red to reddish brown to
black
Streak
red to reddish brown
Luster
metallic, submetallic, earthy
Diaphaneity
Cleavage
opaque
none
Mohs Hardness
5 to 6 1/2
Specific Gravity
5.0 to 5.3
Diagnostic
Properties
Chemical
Composition
Crystal System
Uses
red streak, specific gravity
Fe2O3
trigonal
the most important ore of iron, pigment, heavy
media separation, radiation shielding, ballast,
polishing compounds, a minor gemstone
Physical Properties of Sulfur
Chemical
Classification
native element
Color
bright yellow
Streak
yellow
Luster
resinous
Diaphaneity
transparent to translucent
Cleavage
none
Mohs Hardness
1.5 to 2.5
Specific Gravity
2.0 to 2.1
yellow color, low hardness, low specific gravity,
extremely flammable burning with a blue flame, low
melting temperature
Diagnostic
Properties
Chemical
Composition
Crystal System
orthorhombic
sulfuric acid, fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides,
gunpowder, pharmaceuticals, sulfur compounds
Uses
Physical Properties of Talc
Chemical
Classification
silicate
Color
green, white, gray, brown, colorless
Streak
white to pale green
Luster
pearly
Diaphaneity
Cleavage
translucent
perfect
Mohs Hardness
Specific Gravity
2.7 to 2.8
Diagnostic
Properties
Chemical
Composition
Crystal System
Uses
feel, color, softness, cleavage
Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
monoclinic
used as a filler and anti-stick coating in plastics,
ceramics, paint, paper, roofing, rubber, cosmetics
Physical Properties of Gypsum
Chemical
Classification
sulfate
Color
clear, colorless, white, gray, yellow, red, brown
Streak
white
Luster
vitreous, silky, sugary
Diaphaneity
transparent to translucent
Cleavage
perfect
Mohs Hardness
Specific Gravity
2.3
Diagnostic
Properties
cleavage, specific gravity, low hardness
Chemical
Composition
hydrous calcium sulfate, CaSO4.2H2O
Crystal System
monoclinic
Use to manufacture dry wall, plaster, joint
compound. An agricultural soil treatment.
Uses
Physical Properties of Barite
Chemical
Classification
sulfate
Color
colorless, white, light blue, light yellow, light
red, light green
Streak
white
Luster
vitreous to pearly
Diaphaneity
transparent to translucent
Cleavage
very good, basal, prismatic
Mohs Hardness
Specific Gravity
Diagnostic
Properties
Chemical
Composition
Crystal System
Uses
2.5 to 3.5
4.5
high specific gravity, three cleavage directions
at right angles
barium sulfate , BaSO4
orthorhombic
drilling mud; high density filler for paper,
rubber, plastics
Physical Properties of Calcite
Chemical
Classification
carbonate
Color
usually white but also colorless, gray, red, green,
blue, yellow, brown, orange
Streak
white
Luster
vitreous
Diaphaneity
Cleavage
transparent to translucent
perfect, rhombohedral, three directions
Mohs Hardness
Specific Gravity
2.7
rhombohedral cleavage, powdered form
effervesces weakly in dilute HCl, curved crystal
faces and frequent twinning
Diagnostic
Properties
Chemical
Composition
Crystal System
CaCO3
hexagonal
acid neutralization, a low hardness abrasive, soil
conditioner, heated for the production of lime
Uses
Physical Properties of Limonite
Chemical
Classification
amorphous, mineraloid
Color
yellowish brown to brown to black
Streak
yellowish brown
Luster
dull to earthy
Diaphaneity
opaque
Cleavage
does not cleave because it has an amorphous
structure
Mohs Hardness
1 to 5 (weathered material can be deceptively
soft)
Specific Gravity
2.7 to 4.3 (varies due to impurities)
Diagnostic
Properties
Chemical
Composition
Crystal System
Uses
variable - can be yellow-brown, brown, reddish
brown
a hydrated iron oxide of variable composition
amorphous to cryptocrystalline
ocher pigments, a minor ore of iron
Physical Properties of Magnetite
Chemical
Classification
oxide
Color
Black
Streak
Black
Luster
Metallic to submetallic
Diaphaneity
opaque
Cleavage
none
Mohs Hardness
5.5 to 6.5
Specific Gravity
5.2
Diagnostic
Properties
Strongly magnetic, color, streak, octahedral
crystal habit
Chemical
Composition
Fe3O4
Crystal System
Uses
Isometric
an ore of iron
Physical Properties of Galena
Chemical
Classification
sulide
Color
fresh surfaces are bright silver in color with a
bright metallic luster, tarnishes to a dull lead
gray
Streak
lead gray to black
Luster
metallic on fresh surfaces, tarnishes dull
Diaphaneity
Cleavage
opaque
perfect, cubic, three directions at right angles
Mohs Hardness
2.5+
Specific Gravity
7.4 to 7.6
Diagnostic
Properties
Chemical
Composition
Crystal System
Uses
color, luster, specific gravity, streak, cleavage,
cubic or octahedral crystals
lead sulfide, PbS
isometric
an ore of lead
Physical Properties of Halite
Chemical
Classification
halide
Color
colorless or white when pure; impurities produce
any color but usually yellow, gray, black, brown,
red
Streak
white
Luster
Diaphaneity
Cleavage
Mohs Hardness
Specific Gravity
Diagnostic
Properties
Chemical
Composition
Crystal System
Uses
vitreous
transparent to translucent
perfect, cubic, three directions at right angles
2.5
2
cleavage, solubility, salty taste - (The taste test is
discouraged. Some minerals are toxic or
contaminated by other people tasting them.)
NaCl
isometric
winter road treatment, a source of sodium and
chlorine for chemical processes, food preservation,
seasoning
Acid Reactions of Carbonate Minerals
What is the Acid Test?
To most geologists, the term "acid test" means placing a drop of dilute (5% to 10%) hydrochloric acid on a rock or
mineral and watching for bubbles of carbon dioxide gas to be released. The bubbles signal the presence of carbonate
minerals such as calcite, dolomite or one of the minerals listed in Table 1. .
Mineral
Chemical
Composition
Cold Acid
Reaction
Warm Acid
Reaction
Aragonite
CaCO3
strong
strong
Azurite
Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
yes
strong
Calcite
CaCO3
strong
strong
Dolomite
(CaMg)(CO3)2
weak
yes
Magnesite
MgCO3
very weak
weak
Malachite
Cu2CO3(OH)2
yes
yes
Rhodochrosite
MnCO3
weak
yes
Siderite
FeCO3
very weak
weak
Smithsonite
ZnCO3
weak
yes
Strontianite
SrCO3
yes
yes
Witherite
BaCO3
weak
weak
