Mineral Flashcards
nonmetallic; dark green, brown or black; 2 cleavage directions at about 90 degrees; no streak; black layers; (pyroxene)
Amphibole
nonmetallic; black or dark brown; perfect cleavage may be visible in several directions; “plastic”
Biotite
nonmetallic; colorless to white; 3 good cleavages not at 90 degrees; fizzes in HCl;
Calcite
nonmetallic; variable color; may show some cleavage; no streak
Corundum
metallic; blue-black to lead gray; perfect cubic cleavage; lead; high density; glitters; shiny gray
Galena
nonmetallic; red/brown/green/colorless; conchoidal fracture; 12-24 sided crystals
Garnet
metallic or nonmetallic; steel gray; 1 perfect cleavage; smudges fingers
Graphite
nonmetallic; white to colorless; 1 perfect cleavage, 2 other poor cleavages; flat; scratch with fingernail
Gypsum
nonmetallic; colorless to white; perfect cubic cleavage; salty; 90 degree angles
Halite
metallic or nonmetallic; red or gray sparkly; fracture; distinctive red streak
Hematite
nonmetallic; colorless to pale brown; 1 perfect cleavage; “plastic”
Muscovite
nonmetallic; olive green; no streak; conchoidal fracture; small round glassy grains
Olivine
nonmetallic; PINK/white/green; 2 good cleavages at 90 degrees; no striations on cleavage faces; similar luster to Plagioclase
Orthoclase
nonmetallic; WHITE/blue-gray; 2 good cleavages at nearly 90 degrees; similar luster to Orthoclase
Plagioclase
metallic; brass yellow/ gold sparkly; fracture
Pyrite
