1. Physical Properties:
* Color: This is often the most obvious characteristic, but it can be misleading as many minerals come in a variety of colors.
* Streak: The color of the mineral's powder when rubbed against a streak plate (unglazed porcelain). This can be a more reliable identifier than color.
* Hardness: A mineral's resistance to scratching, measured on Mohs Hardness Scale (1-10).
* Cleavage: The tendency of a mineral to break along smooth, flat surfaces.
* Fracture: The way a mineral breaks when it doesn't break along cleavage planes.
* Luster: The way light reflects off the mineral's surface (metallic, glassy, pearly, etc.)
* Crystal Habit: The shape of a mineral crystal.
* Specific Gravity: The ratio of the mineral's density to the density of water.
* Magnetism: Whether the mineral is attracted to a magnet.
* Fluorescence: Whether the mineral glows under ultraviolet light.
2. Chemical Properties:
* Chemical Composition: The elements that make up the mineral. This is usually determined using sophisticated lab techniques.
It's important to note that no single characteristic is foolproof for identifying minerals. It is often necessary to use a combination of physical and chemical properties to accurately identify a mineral.
