GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Color. One of the most obvious properties of a mineral is color. Color should be considered when identifying a mineral, but should never be used as the major identifying characteristic.

Detailed explanation-2: -Color. Color is rarely very useful for identifying a mineral. Different minerals may be the same color.

Detailed explanation-3: -Minerals can be identified based on a number of properties. The properties most commonly used in identification of a mineral are colour, streak, lustre, hardness, crystal shape, cleavage, specific gravity and habit. Most of these can be assessed relatively easily even when a geologist is out in the field.

Detailed explanation-4: -Using your normal senses of observation (touch, taste, and smell) can help you quickly identify certain minerals. For example, the mineral halite (salt) can be determined by tasting your specimen, whereas pyrite, sphalerite, and chalcopyrite will all have a distinctive “rotten egg” scent.