Mineral Clues for Rock Identification

Mineral color, streak, luster, hardness, magnetism, and acid reaction help identify minerals and rocks. These physical properties can be seen or measured in hand samples and in the field. They are tied to a mineral’s chemical makeup and, to a lesser extent, its atomic structure.

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The physical properties of minerals include various measurable and discernable attributes that are unique and mineral-specific.

Rocks are aggregates of mineral grains. Most rocks are polymineralic, meaning that they are composed of multiple types of mineral grains. Some rocks are monomineralic, and are effectively composed of a single mine...