How do physical characteristics of minerals allow for their identification? And why do minerals have the particular characteristics that they have?
How do physical characteristics of minerals allow for their identification? And why do minerals have the particular characteristics that they have?
Mineral
A mineral or a mineral species can be defined as a solid chemical compound with a fairly well defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form. The mineral can be identified by several physical properties. The physical properties for the identification of a mineral species includes;
Crystal structure and Habit
The crystal structure is defined on the basis of regular internal atomic arrangement. It is expressed in its geometric form. And the crystal habit is defined as the overall shape of a crystal.
Hardness
Hardness of a mineral defines how much a mineral can resist scratching.
Luster and Diaphaneity
Luster indicate the amount of light reflects from the mineral's surface with respect to its quality and intensity. And diaphaneity is the ability of the light to pass through the mineral.
Color and Streak
Color is the most specific property of a mineral. The color is caused by the electromagnetic radiation on interaction with electrons. And streak is the color of the mineral in powdered form.
Cleavage
Weakness in the crystalline structure causes planes of weakness and the breakage of a mineral along the plane is called as cleavage.
Specific gravity
Specific gravity is the density of a mineral
These physical properties are determined by the atomic structure and crystal chemistry of a mineral.
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
