What are the two most common carbonate minerals?
The two most common carbonate minerals are calcite, CaCO3 (Calcium carbonate), and dolomite, CaMg (CO3)2 (calcium/magnesium carbonate).
Which of the following is the best identification of minerals?
The most common physical properties are crystal form, color, hardness, cleavage, and specific gravity. One of the best ways to identify a mineral is by examining its crystal form (external shape).
What is the most common type of rock forming mineral?
silicates
What are the two main elements that make up silicate minerals?
General structure A silicate mineral is generally an ionic compound whose anions consist predominantly of silicon and oxygen atoms.
What types of tests are used to identify minerals?
Geologists use the following tests to distinguish minerals and the rocks they make: hardness, color, streak, luster, cleavage and chemical reaction.
What three tests would you perform to identify an unknown mineral?
Color, Streak, and Luster
- Color. Color is probably the easiest property to observe.
- Streak. Streak is the color of the powder of a mineral.
- Luster. Luster describes the way light reflects off of the surface of the mineral.
- Mohs Hardness Scale.
- Cleavage.
- Fracture.
- Recall.
- Apply Concepts.
What two tests are the most accurate for identifying minerals?
ONE OF THE MOST USEFUL TESTS; the measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched; hardness scale developed by Frederich Mohs -he compares the mineral’s hardness to 10 known minerals; the scale works like this – any mineral that has a greater hardness can scratch a mineral that is softer; hardness is the most reliable …
Why is it difficult to use color to identify minerals?
Generally, color alone is not the best tool in identification because color can be highly variable. Some minerals can occur in a variety of different colors due to impurities in the chemical makeup of the mineral.
What is the most reliable way to identify a mineral using color?
The most reliable way to identify a mineral using color is the streak test. It is more reliable because even though the color of a specimen can vary its streak is usually the same.
What are two reasons that color isn’t a good way to identify minerals?
Using color alone to identify a mineral could lead to an inaccurate conclusion. The hardness of the mineral, luster, cleavage, fracture, how it reacts to an acid, and other traits can be used to identify what the mineral is.
What is another reason that color is unreliable in identifying minerals?
Identifying Minerals Directed Reading
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What causes the purple color of amethyst?? | Carbon, C; and Iron, Fe. |
| What is another reason that color is unreliable in identifying minerals?? | Weathered surfaces may hide the color of minerals. |
| What is streak?? | The color of the mineral in powdered form. |
Which among the properties is the easiest to identify most difficult?
Color is the easiest physical property to describe, however it can also be the most difficult property to make a mineral identification. Some minerals always have the same color, such as gold, whereas some minerals, such as quartz, fluorite, and calcite, come in all colors.
How do scientists use color to identify minerals?
Minerals have distinctive properties that can be used to help identify them. Color and luster describe the mineral’s outer appearance. Streak is the color of the powder. Mohs Hardness Scale is used to compare the hardness of minerals.
What is the hardest mineral on Earth?
Diamond