METALLIC (SUBMETALLIC) (RESINOUS) (EARTHY) LUSTRE

Hardness 5.5 (Knife will not scratch) Streak black magnetic magnetite Fe3O4
black colour, massive or octahedral crystals, no cleavage

Streak black not magnetic ilmenite (FeTiO3)

black colour, usually massive, no cleavage, may be slightly magnetic

Streak black not magnetic pyrite (FeS2)

brassy yellow colour, often shows cubic form, no cleavage

Streak red-brown not magnetic haematite (Fe2O3)

grey to red-brown colour, massive or crystalline , no cleavage

Hardness < 5.5 > 2.5 (Knife scratches) Streak black magnetic pyrrhotite FeS
bronze colour, tarnishes rapidly, massive form, no cleavage

Streak black not magnetic chalcopyrite CuFeS2

yellow colour, usually massive, no cleavage

Streak brown not magnetic sphalerite (Zn,Fe)S

yellow to red-brown colour, typically resinous, crystalline, 6 cleavages not at 90O

Streak grey not magnetic

galena PbS
silver-grey, high SG, crystalline, cubic cleavage red-brown earthy form appears softer than crystalline varieties

Streak red-brown not magnetic haematite Fe2O3 Streak yellow-brown not magnetic limonite (goethite) FeO.OH
yellow-brown colour, massive or earthy habit, variable appearance

Hardness 2.5 (Knife and fingernail scratch) Streak grey not magnetic galena PbS
silver-grey, high SG, crystalline, cubic cleavage

Streak yellow-brown not magnetic limonite (goethite) FeO.OH

yellow-brown earthy form may appear softer, variable appearance

NOTES: 1. Magnetism and streak are useful properties for dark coloured metallic to earthy minerals. 2. Do not put acid on dark coloured metallic minerals.

VITREOUS (SUBVITREOUS) (EARTHY) LUSTRE

Hardness 5.5 (Knife will not scratch) Green to black colour no cleavage olivine (Mg,Fe)2SiO4
crystal aggregates, above average SG, not magnetic Green to black colour 2 cleavages hornblende (Na,K)0-1Ca2(Mg,Fe,Al)5(Si,Al)8O22(OH,F)2 prismatic elongate crystals, above average SG, 2 cleavages not at 90O, not magnetic Green to black colour 2 cleavages pyroxene (augite) Ca(Na,Mg,Fe,Mn,Al,Ti)2(Si,Al)2O6 prismatic more equant crystals, above average SG, 2 cleavages at 90O, not magnetic None or light colour no cleavage quartz SiO2 massive or hexagonal crystals, average SG, not acid reactive None or light colour no cleavage chalcedony SiO2 massive cryptocrystalline, colloform or banded, average SG, not acid reactive None or light colour 2 cleavages plagioclase NaAlSi3O8-CaAl2Si2O8 white to grey colour, massive or tabular crystals, 2 cleavages at 90O, average SG, lamellar twinning, not acid reactive, None or light colour 2 cleavages K-feldspar KAlSi3O8 cream to pink colour, massive or tabular crystals, 2 cleavages at 90O, average SG, perthite structure, not acid reactive

Hardness < 5.5 > 2.5 (Knife scratches) Green to black colour 1 cleavage biotite K2(Mg,Fe)6-4(Fe,Al,Ti)0-2(Si6-5Al2-3O20)(OH,F)4 None or light colour 1 None or light colour 3 None or light colour 3 None or light colour 3 None or light colour 4
lamellar masses or cleavage flakes, above average SG, not acid reactive cleavage muscovite K2Al4Si6Al2O20(OH,F)4 lamellar masses or cleavage flakes, average SG, not acid reactive cleavages calcite CaCO3 massive or crystalline, 3 cleavages not at 90O, average SG, highly acid reactive cleavages dolomite CaMg(CO3)2 massive or crystalline, 3 cleavages not at 90O, average SG, acid reactive if powdered cleavages barite BaSO4 massive or crystalline, 3 cleavages, 2 not at 90O, high SG, not acid reactive cleavages fluorite CaF2 Commonly green or purple, massive or crystalline, average SG, not acid reactive

Hardness 2.5 (Knife and fingernail scratch) Green to black colour 1 cleavage chlorite (Mg,Al,Fe)12(Si, Al)8O20(OH)16 White or light colour White or light colour
lamellar masses or cleavage flakes, average SG, not acid reactive 1 cleavage gypsum CaSO4.2H2O tabular or swallow tail crystals, earthy or fibrous forms, below average SG, not acid reactive massive kaolinite Al4Si4O10(OH)8 massive earthy form, below average SG, not acid reactive

NOTES: 1. Vitreous and subvitreous minerals have a light coloured streak. 2. Cleavage only apparent in well crystallized specimens. 3. Acid reactivity most useful for light coloured soft minerals.

3. Magnetism only present in metallic minerals.