-
Kaolinite
(white)
- Hardness: 1(fingernail)
- Luster: dull
- Cleavage: 1, but one not apparent
- white powdery clay "earthy" smell
-
Talc
(varies)
- hardness: 1( softer then fingernail)
- luster: non metallic
- cleavage: 1 but one apparent
- (feels soapy "soapstone")
-
Graphite
(silver to grey)
- Luster: metallic
- hardness: 1 (fingernail)
- cleavage: 1 not apparent
- (blackens fingernails, pencil lead)
-
Hematite
(red)
- luster: non metallic
- hardness: 1.5 (softer then fingernail)
- cleavage: none
- (red brown streak, variable hardness)
-
chlorite
(dark green)
- Luster: dull
- hardness: 2 (softer then fingernail)
- cleavage: 1 not often apparent
- (dark clay)
-
gypsum
(white or clear)
- Luster: non metallic
- hardness: 2 (softer then a fingernail)
- cleavage: 1 very good! others may be apperent
- (white clear or white, )
-
sulfur
(bright yellow)
- luster: non metallic
- hardness: 2.5 (fingernail)
- cleavage: none
- ("rotten egg" smell)
-
biotite
(dark)
- luster: glassy or metallic
- cleavage: 1 excellent
- hardness: 2 to 3 (cant scratch glass/ harder then fingernail
- (thin sheets)
-
muscovite
(light)
- Luster: glassy metallic
- hardness: 2 to 3 (cant scratch glass?harder then fingernail)
- cleavage: 1 excellent
- (thin sheets)
-
halite
(clear or white)
- Luster: glass
- hardness: 2 .5 (can scratch glass/ but harder then a fingernail)
- cleavage: 3 good at 90
- (table salt, cubic cleavage)
-
galena
(silver to grey)
- luster: metallic
- hardness: 2.5 (cant scratch glass/ but harder than a fingernail)
- cleavage: 3 good at 90
- (very heavy cubic cleavage)
-
copper
(copper)
- luster: metallic
- hardness: 3 ( cant scratch glass/ but harder then glass)
- cleavage:none
- (copper (orange-brown( streak)
-
calicite
(varies)
- luster: non metalic
- hardness: 3 (cant scratch glass/ but harder then fingernail)
- cleavage: 3 good ar 75
- (rhombohedral crystals: fizzes readily in acid)
-
dolomite
(varies)
- luster: non metallic
- hardness: 3 to 4 (cant scratch glass/ but harder then fingernail)
- cleavage: 3 good at 75
- (rhombohedral crystals, only powered fizzes in acid)
-
malachite
(green)
- luster: non metallic
- hardness: 3 to 4
- cleavage: yes but often not apparent
- (green streak, weak fizz in strong acid)
-
fluorite
(varies)
- luster:glassy
- hardness: 4 ( cant scratch glass/ harder then a fingernail)
- cleavage: octahedral, (8 sided)
- (triangular faces, often purple)
-
apatite
(green to brown)
- Luster: non metallic
- hardness: 5 (cant scratch glass/ harder then fingernail)
- cleavage: 1 poor
- (sometimes a hexagonal crystals)
-
pyrite
(gold)
- luster: metallic
- hardness: 5 (cant scratch glass/ but harder then fingernail)
- cleavage: none
- ( may have cubic crystals, fool's gold)
-
amphibole
(dark)
- luster: non metallic
- hardness: 6 ( can scatch glass)
- cleavage: 2 at 90
- (cleavage at 60 and 120)
-
pyroxene
(dark)
- luster: non metallic
- hardness: 6 (can scratch glass)
- cleavage: 2 at 90
- (cleavage at or near 90)
-
olivine
green or darker
- luster: non metallic
- cleavage: none
- hardness:6 (can scratch glass)
- (usually a mass of small grains)
-
magnetite
(black)
- luster: metallic or dull
- hardness: 6 (can scratch glass)
- cleavage: none
- black streak, strongly magnetic
-
hematite
(silver or red)
- luster: dull or metallic
- hardness: 6 (can scratch glass)
- cleavage: none
- red-brown streak
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