* Color: Many minerals come in a variety of colors due to impurities or trace elements. For example, quartz can be clear, milky white, pink, purple, or smoky gray.

* Streak: The color of a mineral's powder, which is often more consistent than its overall color. However, some minerals have a streak that is similar to other minerals.

* Luster: The way a mineral reflects light. While luster can be helpful, it can be subjective and may not be a reliable indicator of a mineral's identity.

* Cleavage/Fracture: How a mineral breaks. While cleavage and fracture are useful properties, they can sometimes be ambiguous or difficult to observe.

* Specific Gravity: The ratio of a mineral's density to the density of water. This property is more useful in a laboratory setting and not readily determined in the field.

* Tenacity: How well a mineral resists breaking or bending. This property is often subjective and can be difficult to assess.

* Magnetism: Some minerals are magnetic, but many are not.

* Radioactivity: Only a few minerals are radioactive.

Key Takeaway: While these properties can be helpful in narrowing down the possibilities, they are not reliable on their own for identifying a mineral. A combination of several properties is usually needed for accurate identification.