How to Identify Minerals | Streak vs Color, Mohs Hardness, Cleavage & Fracture

Описание: In this earth science lesson, we explore how to identify minerals using key diagnostic properties. This video covers hands-on demonstrations of mineral identification techniques commonly used in intro geology, earth science, and physical geology courses.

Topics covered include:
Mineral luster (metallic vs. nonmetallic)
Color vs. streak and why streak is more reliable
Hardness testing using the Mohs Hardness Scale
Crystal shape, cleavage, and fracture
Tenacity (brittle, malleable, ductile, elastic)
Density (heft) as a diagnostic property
Special properties such as magnetism, smell (sulfides), and double refraction
Identification of common minerals including graphite, pyrite (fool’s gold), galena, calcite, quartz, fluorite, gypsum, mica, magnetite, hematite, chlorite, and sulfur

The video also explains how minerals are classified, including:
Silicates vs. non-silicates
Oxides, sulfides, halides, carbonates, and native elements
Economic vs. rock-forming minerals
Why minerals are essential for energy, construction, manufacturing, and understanding Earth’s crust

This lesson is ideal for:
High school and college Earth Science / Geology students
Teachers looking for classroom demonstrations
Anyone interested in rocks, minerals, and mineral identification

#minerals #geology #earthscience #pyrite #galena #calcite #magnetite