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3: Mineral Properties

Last updated

Aug 28, 2022
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- 2.6.1: Common Elements Make Up the Common Minerals
- 3.1: Naming Minerals

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3.1 Calcite crystals on purple-blue fluorite. From the Annabel Lee Mine, Cave-in-Rock Mining District, southern Illinois, USA

KEY CONCEPTS

Mineral names derive from mineral appearance, composition, provenance, and many other things. Many are named after well-known mineralogists.
A mineral’s common appearance (its habit) includes both crystal shape and the way that multiple mineral crystals may grow together.
Mineral crystals have shapes related to the arrangements of atoms within them.
We typically use physical properties such as luster, color, diaphaneity, crystal shape, streak, hardness, and cleavage to identify and distinguish different minerals.
Other properties, including magnetism and reaction to hydrochloric acid are sometimes diagnostic.

KEY CONCEPTS

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