GEO 101 - Minerals Identification Actual
study with Questions and
correct/verified Answers
Talc - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Hardness is less than 2.5
Powder streak
Prominent cleavage in one direction
*feels greasy
Gypsum - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Hardness of less than 2.5
White Powder is left behind
White or Colorless
Prominent cleavage in one direction
*slab splits, massive variety, fine-grained, and angular
Calcite - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Hardness is less than 2.5
White powder is left behind
Colorless, gray, pink
Cleavage in 3 directions not at 90 degrees
*Reacts vigorously with hydrochloric acid
Fluorite - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Softer than glass
White powder is left behind
green color
Cleavage in four directions
*cube shaped crystals
Hematite - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Softer than glass
Red streak
, Reddish brown color
Too fine-grained to tell
*Earthy reddish brown luster
Potassium Feldspar - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Harder than glass
White streak
White, gray, pink, and green color
Cleavage in 2 directions at 90 degrees
*no striations, narrow ribbon, like ex solution
Milkey Quartz - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Harder than glass
White streak
Variable very
Conchoidal Fracture
*elongated 6-sided crystals
Galena - ANSWER-Metallic
Softer than glass
Gray streak
Silvery/battleship gray
*Three cleavage directions at 90 degrees
Chalcopyrite - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Softer than glass
Black streak
Gold brassy yellow
Muscovite - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Softer than a fingernail
white
colorless
prominent cleavage in one direction
*splits into thin transparent sheets
study with Questions and
correct/verified Answers
Talc - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Hardness is less than 2.5
Powder streak
Prominent cleavage in one direction
*feels greasy
Gypsum - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Hardness of less than 2.5
White Powder is left behind
White or Colorless
Prominent cleavage in one direction
*slab splits, massive variety, fine-grained, and angular
Calcite - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Hardness is less than 2.5
White powder is left behind
Colorless, gray, pink
Cleavage in 3 directions not at 90 degrees
*Reacts vigorously with hydrochloric acid
Fluorite - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Softer than glass
White powder is left behind
green color
Cleavage in four directions
*cube shaped crystals
Hematite - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Softer than glass
Red streak
, Reddish brown color
Too fine-grained to tell
*Earthy reddish brown luster
Potassium Feldspar - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Harder than glass
White streak
White, gray, pink, and green color
Cleavage in 2 directions at 90 degrees
*no striations, narrow ribbon, like ex solution
Milkey Quartz - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Harder than glass
White streak
Variable very
Conchoidal Fracture
*elongated 6-sided crystals
Galena - ANSWER-Metallic
Softer than glass
Gray streak
Silvery/battleship gray
*Three cleavage directions at 90 degrees
Chalcopyrite - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Softer than glass
Black streak
Gold brassy yellow
Muscovite - ANSWER-nonmetallic
Softer than a fingernail
white
colorless
prominent cleavage in one direction
*splits into thin transparent sheets
