Essential Physical Properties of Common Rock-Forming Minerals
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Key Characteristics of Common Minerals
Mineral Identification Data Table
| MINERAL (Formula/Type) | HABIT | COLOR | LUSTER | DIAPHANEITY | STREAK | FRACTURE | TENACITY | HARDNESS (Mohs) | SPECIFIC GRAVITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz (SiO₂) | Prismatic | Colorless to white | Vitreous | Transparent / Translucent | White | Conchoidal | Brittle to tough | 7 | 2.6 |
| Orthoclase (K Aluminosilicate) | Monoclinic | Colorless | Vitreous | Transparent / Translucent | White | Conchoidal to irregular | Brittle | 6 | 2.7 |
| Plagioclase (Ca, Na Aluminosilicate) | Triclinic | Colorless | Vitreous | Transparent / Translucent | Colorless | Irregular | Brittle | 6 | 2.6 |
| Hornblende (Ca and Mg Inosilicate) | Monoclinic | Dark green | Vitreous | Translucent | White | Irregular | Brittle | 5–6 | 3.2 |
| Actinolite (Ca and Mg Inosilicate) | Columnar fibrous | Brilliant green | Vitreous | Translucent | White | Irregular | Brittle | 5–6 | 3.2 |
| Augite (Mg and Ca Inosilicate) | Monoclinic | Dark green | Vitreous | Transparent / Translucent | White | Basal | Brittle | 5–6 | 3.2 |
| Epidote (Al, Fe, Ca Sorosilicate) | Monoclinic | Light green | Vitreous | Transparent / Translucent | Colorless | Irregular | Brittle | 6–7 | 3.4 |
| Tourmaline (Boron and Al Cyclosilicate) | Hexagonal | Blue brown | Vitreous | Transparent | White | Irregular to conchoidal | Brittle | 7.5 | 3.0 |
| Garnet (A: Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn Nesosilicate) | Cubic | Red to black | Vitreous to resinous | Transparent / Translucent | White | Irregular conchoidal | Brittle | 7.5 | 3.6–4.3 |
| Biotite (Al, Fe, Mg, K Phyllosilicate) | Monoclinic | Dark green | Pearly | Transparent / Translucent | Colorless | Irregular | Flexible | 3 | 2.8–3.2 |
| Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) | Crystals | Black | Metallic | Opaque | Black | Subconchoidal and irregular | Brittle | 6 | 6.0 |
| Hematite (Fe₂O₃) | Crystals | Dull red | Metallic to submetallic | Opaque / Translucent | Reddish brown | Irregular subconchoidal | Brittle | 5–6 | 5.2 |
| Limonite (FeO(OH) · nH₂O) | Columnar | Reddish | Vitreous | Opaque | Yellow brown | Irregular conchoidal | Brittle | 4–5 | 3.0 |
| Gypsum (CaSO₄ · 2H₂O) | Prismatic | Colorless white | Vitreous | Transparent / Clear | White | Fibrous | Brittle | 2 | 2.3 |
| Calcite (CaCO₃) | Hexagonal | White to colorless | Vitreous | Transparent / Clear | White | Conchoidal | Brittle | 3 | 2.7 |
| Rhodochrosite (MnCO₃) | Hexagonal | Light pink | Vitreous | Transparent / Clear | White | Irregular | Brittle | 4 | 3.5 |