Which of the following properties is generally the least useful in identifying minerals?
2 answers:
<em>Identification of minerals that are least recommended is color identification (answer D) </em>
<em>color is the least useful in identifying minerals because minerals can have various colors and can be subjective depending on the observer </em>
<h3><em>Further explanation </em></h3>
In mineral, identification can be done visually or using special equipment
There are several physical properties or chemical properties that are used to determine certain minerals
- 1. Hardness of material
Material hardness is usually expressed on the Mohs scale where the range of values is on a scale of 1-10
Value 1 is the softest and 10 is the hardest
The hardness of the material itself is a mineral resistance to scratches
Mineral hardness can also be compared to the hardness of other minerals
Examples of steel nails that have a scale of 5 Mohs
- 2. Streak
Streak is a mineral color in the form of powder, which is done by scraping minerals in rough fields so that powder is formed. The resulting color can be either the original color or not
- 3. Cleavage
It is a characteristic of mineral splitting because of external treatment such as beating so that the mineral can split according to the lines
If there is no visible line, the mineral will break
Like calcite which has 3 fields/lines
- 4. Colour
Minerals can have several colors. The color that we see is a reflection of light that affects minerals
Color identification can be subjective depending on the observer
For example, iron oxide can have a yellow to reddish-brown color
So identification of minerals that are least recommended is color identification (answer D)
<h3><em>Learn more </em></h3>
properties are used to identify minerals
the four characteristics of a mineral
Qualities of a mineral that classifies it as ore
Keywords: mineral, identification, Streak, Hardness, color, cleavage
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