PHYSICAL PROPERTIES | MINERAL NAME, FORMULA |
|---|---|
| Most commonly WHITE or CLEAR, but other colors are possible; 3-WAY CLEAVAGE, not at right angles; EFFERVESCES (fizzes) IN DILUTE HCl acid; H=3 | CALCITE CaCO3 |
| Most commonly WHITE, PINK, or GRAY; 3-WAY CLEAVAGE, not at right angles; commonly in fine-grained granular masses; REACTS WEAKLY WITH HCl acid (slowly or only if sample is powdered); H=3-3.5; may occur as curved, pink crystals. | DOLOMITE CaMg(CO3)2 |
| COLORLESS, yellow, pale green or pale brown; PERFECT 1-WAY CLEAVAGE; thin flexible sheets; flakes in small grains; H=2.5. | MUSCOVITE KAl2(AlSi3)O10(OH)2 |
| COLORLESS, white, tan; vitreous luster, Perfect 3-way cleavage, at right angles; tastes salty, H=2 | HALITE, NaCl |
| WHITE, colorless, tan, Perfect 3-way cleavage, not at right angles; H=1.5-2 | GYPSUM, CaSO4*nH2O |
| WHITE, GRAY, or LIGHT GREEN; pearly or silky luster; commonly in fine-grained granular masses; can easily scratch with fingernail, slippery feel, H=1 | TALC, Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| WHITE, gray, or tan; dull luster; compact mass with slippery feel; very fine grained, H=2-2.5 | KAOLINITE, Al2Si2O5(OH)4 |
