List of mineral tests

Mineral tests are simple physical and chemical methods of testing samples, which can help to identify the mineral type. This approach is used widely in mineralogy, ore geology and general geological mapping.

The following tests are some examples of those that are used on hand specimens, or on field samples, or on thin sections with the aid of a polarizing microscope.


 * Color
 * Color of the mineral. This is not mineral specific. For example quartz can be almost any color, shape and within many rock types.


 * Streak


 * Color of the mineral's powder. This can be found by rubbing the mineral onto a concrete. This is more accurate but not always mineral specific.


 * Lustre


 * This is the way light reflects from the mineral's surface. A mineral can be metallic (shiny) or non-metallic (not shiny).


 * Transparency


 * The way light travels through minerals. The mineral can be transparent (clear), translucent (cloudy) or opaque (none).


 * Specific gravity


 * Ratio between the weight of the mineral relative to an equal volume of water.


 * Mineral habitat


 * The shape of the crystal and habitat.


 * Magnetism


 * Magnetic or nonmagnetic. Can be tested by using a magnet or a compass. This does not apply to all ion minerals (for example, pyrite).


 * Cleavage


 * Number, behaviour, size and way cracks fracture in the mineral.


 * UV fluorescence


 * Many minerals glow when put under a UV light.


 * Radioactivity


 * Is the mineral radioactive or non-radioactive? This is measured by a Geiger counter.


 * Taste
 * This is not recommended. Is the mineral salty, bitter or does it have no taste?


 * Bite Test
 * This is not recommended. This involves biting a mineral to see if its generally soft or hard. This was used in early gold exploration to tell the difference between pyrite (fools gold, hard) and gold (soft).


 * Hardness


 * The Mohs Hardness Scale is the main scale to measure mineral hardness. Finger nail is 2.5, copper coin is 3.5, glass is 5.5 and steel is 6.5. Hardness scale is Talc is 1, Gypsum is 2, Calcite is 3, Fluorite is 4, Apatite is 5, Orthoclase Feldspar is 6, Quartz is 7, Topaz is 8, Corundum is 9 and Diamond is 10.


 * Odor
 * Not always recommended. Does the mineral have an odor of oil, sulfur or something else or is there no odour?


 * Electric resistance


 * Every mineral has a different electrical resistance which is done by passing an electric current through the mineral which is received by a receiver.


 * Relief
 * Shape and structure of mineral.


 * Fracture
 * Type of fracture and fracture pattern.


 * Shape
 * Mineral shape or crystal system (cubic, tetragonal, hexagonal, trigonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic or triclinic)


 * Birefringence
 * Colour of minerals in crossed polarized light (XPL), colour strength.


 * Twinning
 * Crystal twinning present and type.


 * Extinction angle
 * Degrees which mineral turns black in XPL in microscope.


 * Zoning
 * Mineral zoning present.


 * Mineral texture
 * Porphyritic (large xenocryst surrounded by fine crystals), Melange (mix of minerals), Poikilitic (one mineral grown around another),Polymorph (same composition but different shape), Hetrogenous (many types of minerals), Homogeneous (one mineral type).


 * Re-activity
 * Is the mineral reactive or nonreactive? If it is reactive it usually has calcium carbonate composition.


 * Associated rock type
 * What rock type is the mineral usually associated.


 * Degree of metamorphism and alteration
 * Mineral shape, properties or form been altered.


 * Lattice structure and geochemistry- Signature chemical elements and bonds of the mineral. For example, is the mineral hydrous like mica or non hydrous like Jadeite.