What are the important characteristics of minerals?
Answers
Explanation:
Following are the Characteristics of Minerals:
1. Minerals Are Natural. You must find minerals in nature; substances concocted in laboratories don't qualify. ...
2. Minerals Are Inorganic. ...
3. Minerals Are Solids. ...
4. Definite Chemical Composition. ...
5. Crystalline Structure
Translucency - Light, but not an image, is transmitted through a mineral.
Transparency - Objects are visible when viewed through a mineral
Opaqueness - No light is transmitted, even on the thinnest edges.
Taste - Taste can be used to help identify some minerals, such as halite (salt).
Acid reaction - Object reacts to hydrochloric acid. The most distinguishing characteristic of calcite is that it effervesces when hydrochloric acid is applied. Dolomite shows a reaction on a freshly broken or powdered surface. Testing for calcite, limestone, or dolomite calls for 10% hydrochloric acid, but strong white vinegar can be substituted for the acid.
Magnetism - Magnetism is a distinguishing characteristic of magnetic
Crystal shape - Cubic, rhombohedral (tilted cube), hexagonal (six-sided), etc. Some crystal shapes are illustrated below.