1. Color: While not always reliable (some minerals come in multiple colors), color can be a helpful first indicator. For example, gold is always gold, and azurite is usually blue.

2. Streak: This refers to the color of the mineral's powder. You can determine streak by rubbing the mineral across a streak plate (unglazed porcelain). This can be more consistent than the mineral's overall color. For example, pyrite (fool's gold) is gold, but its streak is black.

3. Luster: This describes how light reflects off the mineral's surface. Common luster descriptions include metallic, glassy, pearly, dull, and earthy.

4. Hardness: This measures a mineral's resistance to scratching. You can use Mohs Hardness Scale, which ranks minerals from 1 (talc, easily scratched by a fingernail) to 10 (diamond, only scratched by another diamond).

5. Cleavage and Fracture: Cleavage refers to the way a mineral breaks along smooth, flat planes. Fracture describes an irregular break. Minerals with perfect cleavage break predictably, while those with fracture break unevenly.

6. Specific Gravity: This measures the density of a mineral relative to water. A mineral with a high specific gravity will feel heavier than a mineral with a lower specific gravity of the same size. You can roughly gauge specific gravity by picking up the mineral – does it feel surprisingly heavy or light for its size?

Important Note: While these methods can help distinguish minerals, it's best to use a combination of them. Remember, a single characteristic is not always enough to identify a mineral.