1. Color: While not always reliable, color can be a starting point for identification. Some minerals have distinctive colors, like azurite (blue) or pyrite (gold). However, many minerals come in various colors due to impurities.

2. Streak: This refers to the color of the mineral's powder when rubbed against a streak plate (unglazed porcelain). Streak is often more consistent than color and can help differentiate between minerals that look similar.

3. Hardness: Measured using Mohs Hardness Scale, this test assesses a mineral's resistance to scratching. You can use a scratch test with a common object like a fingernail (2.5), a copper penny (3.5), a steel nail (5.5), or a glass plate (5.5).

4. Cleavage and Fracture: Cleavage refers to the way a mineral breaks along specific planes of weakness. This can produce smooth, flat surfaces. Fracture describes how a mineral breaks when there is no cleavage, which can be conchoidal (curved like a shell), uneven, or splintery.

5. Luster: Luster describes how light reflects off a mineral's surface. Examples include metallic, glassy, pearly, silky, and earthy.

6. Crystal Form: Some minerals form characteristic crystal shapes. Though not always visible, the shape of a mineral's crystals can be a key identifier.

7. Specific Gravity: This measures the mineral's density relative to water. You can estimate specific gravity by feeling the mineral's weight in your hand. A mineral with high specific gravity will feel heavier than a mineral with lower specific gravity.

Important Note: Using only one or two of these characteristics is not enough to positively identify a mineral. A combination of multiple tests and characteristics is essential for accurate identification.