Minnesota Minerals Education Workshop
August 5 -7, 2003

Mineral Identification

Definitions
Physical Properties
	Luster
	Color and Streak
	Hardness
	Cleavage & Parting
	Twinning
	Habit
Mineral Background
Mineral ID outline
ID Worksheet
Materials Needed
Determinative Tables
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Identification Outline

1. Determine Luster

2. If metallic, check hardness, then streak, color, density and habit.

3. If non-metallic determine if the streak is colored. If colored, check the mineral color, its density, hardness, and habit.

4. If non-metallic and streak is white, check hardness, cleavage, color, density and then habit.

Last Updated July 24, 2003
Penny Morton