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Excellent introduction to minerals. Students will learn to identify 15 common minerals by observing and testing their physical properties. Activity guide, magnifying glass, streak plate, nail included.
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| Mineral Specimen |
Color |
Luster |
Streak |
Hardness |
Unique properties |
| Fluorite |
Green, yellow, purple |
Vitreous |
White |
4 |
Forms cubic crystals and often fluoresces |
| Feldspar, var. Microcline |
White, red, green |
Vitreous |
White |
6 |
Cleavage angle just under 90 degrees |
| Hematite |
Red, brown, black |
Dull to metallic |
Dark red |
5.5 - 6.5 |
Becomes magnetic upon heating |
| Pyrite |
Pale brass yellow |
Metallic |
Brown |
6 - 6.5 |
Is brittle and has conchoidal fracture |
| Quartz, var. Milky |
Colorless to white |
Vitreous |
None |
7 |
Conchoidal fracture |
| Calcite |
White, yellow, brown, blue |
Vitreous to earthy |
White |
3 |
Often fluorescent and has many colors |
| Mica, var. Muscovite |
Colorless, yellow, brown |
Vitreous to pearly |
None |
2 - 2.5 |
Thin sheets are elastic (tenacity) |
| Magnetite |
Iron-black |
Metallic |
Black |
6 |
Magnetic |
| Gysum, var. Alabaster |
White, gray, yellow |
Pearly to earthy |
White |
2 |
Can be scratched by a fingernail |
| Talc |
White, green, gray |
Pearly to greasy |
White |
1 |
Greasy feel, sectile (tenacity) |
| Halite |
Colorless, white, pink |
Transparent |
White |
2.5 |
Salty taste |
| Mica, var. Biotite |
Green, brown, black |
Splendent |
None |
2.5 - 3 |
Thin sheets are elastic (tenacity) |
| Graphite |
Black |
Metallic to dull |
Black |
1 - 2 |
Greasy feel |
| Gypsum, var. Satin Spar |
White, gray |
Silky |
White |
2 |
Fibrous gypsum |
| Gypsum, var. Selenite |
Colorless |
Transparent |
White |
2 |
Bladed gypsum |
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