Physical property of minerals Flashcards
Effect produced by combination of wavelength of light incident on the surface of the mineral reaching the observer’s eyes
Color
A play of color or colored reflections exhibited especially by labradorite and cause by internal structures that selectively reflect only certain colors.
Labradorescence (schiller effect)
Optical phenomenon that defines the gem known as moonstone. It is a soft glow of light that floats under the surface of a polished gemstone or under the smooth surface of a gem material.
Adularescence
observed in some semi-translucent to transparent feldspar minerals and is caused by light entering the material and reflecting from molecular interferences within the stone.
Adularescence
Unique optical property on a certain minerals where they change color upon exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet light.
Photochromism/ Tenebrescence
Best example for Tenebrescence
Hackmanite
Transition elements
Chromophores
These are the Transition elements
V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni. Cu
exhibits internally various prismatic colors when the mineral is turned.
Play of colors
Appearance of different colors when a crystal is viewed in transmitted light in different directions.
Pleochroism
Two direction has distinct colors
Dichroism
Pearly reflection from the interior of a mineral
Opalescence
Shows a series of colors due to light undergoing reflective interference with itself either on the surface or the interior.
Iridescence
Band of light moves from side to side as in a cat’s eye
Chatoyancy
Six pointed star, formed by a beam of light at right angles at each set of inclusions.
Asterism
Mineral emits visible light when exposed to UV light
Fluorescence
Some fluorescent minerals will continue to glow after the UV light has turned off
Phosphorescence
Some minerals when heated below red hear will emit visible light
Thermoluminescence
When rub it struck with a hammer, minerals will emit visible light.
Triboluminescence
Color of the powdered form of a mineral
Streak
A marked tendency to break or split easily in certain well-defined directions yielding more or less smooth surfaces which are parallel to the crystal surfaces or possible crystal system
Cleavage
3 cleavages, 6 faces at right angles
Cubic
4 cleavages, 8 faces
Octahedral
Example for cubic cleavage
Halite
Example for octahedral cleavage
Fluorite
6 cleavages 12 faces
Dodecahedral
Example of dodecahedral cleavage
Sphalerite
3 cleavages, 6 6 faces not at right angle
Rhombohedral
Example for rhombohedral cleavage
Calcite and dolomite