Rock and Mineral Reference Sheet

MINERALS: __________________________________________

Minerals you have to Know

• Halite

• Calcite

• Mica

• Pyrite

Gypsum

A Mineral Has To be

• Natural• Solid• Nonorganic (inorganic) no C-H bonds• Has to have a definite atomic composition• Has to have a definite atomic arrangement

Way to Identify a Mineral

• Hardness: Moth's hardness scale (resistance to being scratched

• Luster: how it reflects light• How it breaks: (cleavage or fracture)• Specific Gravity: (comparing it’s density to the

density of water)• Streak: Powder form of a mineral• Color (comes from small impurity so worst way to

identify)