Mineral Properties Reference Chart

Section 1: Dark-colored minerals

Name Mineral Streak Hardness Density Cleavage/ Luster Color color value (g/ml) fracture type Graphite Gray or Black 1.5 2.3 g/ml Uneven Greasy/ black fracture pearly Galena Gray Gray-black 2.5 7.6 g/ml Cubic cleavage Metallic Biotite Dark brown White or 2.5 – 3 3.0 g/ml Basal cleavage Vitreous or (mica) or black no streak pearly Chalcopyrite Dark brassy Greenish- 3.4 – 4 4.2 g/ml Uneven Metallic yellow black fracture Sphalerite Red-brown White, 3.5 – 4 4.0 g/ml Cleavage in 6 Dull or black yellow or directions brown Monazite Reddish Brown 5.5 4.6 g/ml Uneven Dull or vitreous brown fracture Hematite Earth form Red brown 5.5 – 6.5 5.3 g/ml Uneven Crystal form is is reddish fracture metallic; earthy brown; form is dull crystal form is dark gray Magnetite black black 6 5.2 g/ml Uneven Dull or waxy fracture Hornblende Dark green white 5 -- 6 3.2 g/ml Prismatic Vitreous or black cleavage Sodalite Blue white 5—6 2.3 g/ml Uneven Vitreous or fracture greasy Garnet Dark white or no 6.5 – 7.5 4.0 g/ml Uneven Vitreous brown, red streak fracture or purple Tourmaline Black, White or 7.5 3.1 g/ml Uneven Vitreous brown, no streak fracture violet or green Corundum Brown or White or 9 4.0 g/ml Hexagonal Vitreous or purple no streak cleavage waxy

Section 2: Light-colored minerals

Name Mineral Streak Hardness Density Cleavage/ Luster Color color value (g/ml) fracture type Talc White White 1 2.7 g/ml Basal cleavage Pearly OR uneven fracture Gypsum White White or 2 2.3 g/ml Cleavage in Vitreous, pearly no streak one direction or silky Chlorite Green or Light green 2 – 2.5 3.0 g/ml Basal cleavage Vitreous gray or white Muscovite Colorless or White or 2.5 – 3 2.8 g/ml Basal cleavage Vitreous (mica) creamy no streak brown Halite Colorless or White or 2.5 2.2 g/ml Cubic cleavage Vitreous or white no streak pearly Lepidolite Pink or White 2.3 – 3 2.8 g/ml Uneven Vitreous or purple fracture pearly Calcite White or White or 3 2.7 g/ml Rhombic Vitreous colorless no streak cleavage Serpentine Green White 2 – 3 2.2 g/ml Uneven Greasy or silky fracture Fluorite Light green White 4 3.2 g/ml Cleavage in 4 Vitreous directions Apatite Light green White 5 3.2 g/ml Uneven Vitreous fracture Pyrite Pale brassy Greenish 6 – 6.5 5.0 g/ml Cubic cleavage Metallic yellow brown or black Feldspar Pink or tan White or 6 2.6 g/ml Cleavage in 2 Vitreous or no streak directions pearly Olivine Yellow- White or 6.5 – 7 3.3 g/ml Uneven or Dull or vitreous green no streak conchoidal fracture Quartz Colorless, No streak 7 2.6 g/ml Uneven Vitreous white, pink, fracture tan, purple