Question

question 19 (5 points)
listen
you learned that physical properties are important to identify minerals. explain in a least five sentences how you would use luster, hardness, cleavage, and streak to identify a mineral.

Explanation:

Luster describes how a mineral reflects light. Hardness is tested with Mohs scale. Cleavage is how a mineral breaks along planes. Streak is the color of powder when rubbed. Each property narrows down mineral possibilities.

Answer:

Luster helps identify if a mineral is metallic or non - metallic. For example, pyrite has a metallic luster. Hardness is determined by scratching with known materials. Apatite (hardness 5) can be scratched by orthoclase (hardness 6). Cleavage shows if a mineral breaks into flat surfaces. Mica has perfect cleavage. Streak is the color of the powder left when rubbed on a streak plate. Hematite has a reddish - brown streak. By combining these four properties (luster, hardness, cleavage, streak), one can systematically eliminate and identify minerals from a group of possibilities.