Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences

Mineral Identification Tables

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Physical Properties

Possible Minerals
METALLIC and SUBMETALLIC LUSTER[more properties]HEMATITE, Fe2O3
MAGNETITE, Fe3O4
PYRITE, FeS2
NON-METALLIC LUSTER
(BUT NOT EARTHY)		Light ColoredHarder than GlassCleavage[more properties]POTASSIUM FELDSPAR, KAlSi3O8
PLAGIOCLASE FELDSPAR,  (Na,Ca)(Al,Si)4O8, Na>Ca
NO Cleavage[more properties]OLIVINE, (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
QUARTZ, SiO2
GARNET, (Mg,Fe,Ca)3Al2Si3O12
Softer than GlassCleavage[more properties]CALCITE, CaCO3
DOLOMITE, CaMg(CO3)2
MUSCOVITE, KAl2(AlSi3)O10(OH)2
HALITE, NaCl
GYPSUM, CaSO4*nH2O
TALC, Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
KAOLINITE, Al2Si2O5(OH)4
Dark ColoredHarder than GlassNO Cleavage[more properties]GARNET, (Fe,Mg,Ca)3Al2Si3O12
QUARTZ, SiO2
OLIVINE, (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
Cleavage[more properties]HORNBLENDE, NaCa2(Mg,Fe,Al)5(Al,Si)8O22(OH)2
AUGITE, Ca(Mg,Fe)Si2O6
PLAGIOCLASE FELDSPAR, (Ca,Na)(Al,Si)4O8, Ca>Na
EPIDOTE, Ca2FeAl2Si3O12(OH)
GARNET, (Fe,Mg,Ca)3Al2Si3O12
Softer than GlassCleavage[more properties]BIOTITE, K(Fe,Mg)3AlSi3O10(OH)2
CHLORITE, (Mg,Fe)6Si4O10(OH)8
CALCITE, CaCO3
DOLOMITE, CaMg(CO3)2
EARTHYLight Colored[more properties]CALCITE, CaCO3
DOLOMITE, CaMg(CO3)2
Dark Colored[more properties]HEMATITE, Fe2O3
CALCITE, CaCO3
DOLOMITE, CaMg(CO3)2

For an easier-to-read format:

Use Emeritus Professor Rick Abbott's mineral ID charts.