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,Cleavage Directions Number of planes along which a mineral cleaves; often shortened to just
"cleavages"


-Different minerals may display 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 of these


-You can count these by counting all of the non parallel cleavage planes


-If you see a flash/reflection of light, you've seen this (this method is best for
samples with good or poor versions of this)


Talc Softest mineral; 1 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Feels soapy/slippery


Luster: Pearly


Cleavages: 1, but often indistinct


Gypsum a very soft, light-colored mineral that forms from the evaporation of things like
seawater


-2 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Fingernail 2.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Calcite 3 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Luster: Vitreous


Cleavages: 3 (Rhombohedral) at 75° and 105°




Copper Penny 3.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Fluorite 4 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Apatite 5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale




Steel Knives and Glass 5.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale

, K-Feldspar 6 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


has thin veinlets (not the same as striations)


Luster: Vitreous


Cleavages: 2 at 90°




Steel File 6.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Quartz 7 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Luster: Vitreous


Cleavages: 0




Topaz 8 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Corundum Rubies and sapphire; 9 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Diamond Hardest mineral; 10 on the Mohs Hardness Scale


Plagioclase has striations (very thin, parallel grooves on cleavage surfaces)




Amphibole Class: Carbonate
Luster: Vitreous to Dull
Cleavages: 2 at 90°
Hardness: 5-6 (Scratches Glass)
Streak: None, or Gray