write a short essay about the process of identifying minerals

The Physical properties of minerals are used by Mineralogists to help determine the identity of a specimen. Some of the tests can be performed easily in the field, while others require laboratory equipment. For the beginning student of geology, there are a number of simple tests that can be used with a good degree of accuracy. The list of tests is in a suggested order, progressing from simple experimentation and observation to more complicated either in procedure or concept.Properties of MineralsThe following physical properties of minerals can be easily used to identify a mineral:ColorStreakHardnessCleavage or FractureCrystalline StructureDiaphaneity or Amount of Transparency TenacityMagnetismLusterOdorTasteSpecific GravityBelow is a detailed description of each of these properties of minerals.Properties of Minerals- A Detailed DescriptionColorMost minerals have a distinctive color that can be used for identification. In opaque minerals, the color tends to be more consistent, so learning the colors associated with these minerals can be very helpful in identification. Translucent to transparent minerals have a much more varied degree of color due to the presence of trace minerals. Therefore, color alone is not reliable as a single identifying characteristic. Streak Streak is the color of the mineral in powdered form. Streak shows the true color of the mineral. In large solid form, trace minerals can change the color appearance of a mineral by reflecting the light in a certain way. Trace minerals have little influence on the reflection of the small powdery particles of the streak. The streak of metallic minerals tends to appear dark because the small particles of the streak absorb the light hitting them. Non-metallic particles tend to reflect most of the light so they appear lighter in color or almost white. Because streak is a more accurate illustration of the.
Comments on Initial Essays EMSC 121 Essay I've never really thought extensively about how minerals affect my life until I started taking this course.  Minerals are everywhere and it never occurred to me that my life would be so different without them.  As I start my day, I take for granted that I have a place to live.  Without minerals, I would be homeless.  Minerals are the key components in the foundation of my apartment building.  They are what make my building strong and secure.  When I walk in my bathroom, I take for granted that I have tiles on my floor and in the bath tub.  And when I look in the mirror to put on my gold and silver jewelry (although I never wear both together because that is a big fashion No-No), I take for granted that I am able to see myself in my mirror (because of minerals) and to admire my minerals (aka my gold necklace and silver watch).  Without minerals, I wouldn't be able to make such a great fashion statement.  As I leave my apartment, I take for granted that I have sidewalks and streets to walk on.  Without minerals, I would be forced to walk through muddy fields and grassy pastures.  Sitting in my computer class, I take for granted that I have a computer, which uses gold trimmings to operate.  After class, I take for granted that I have a car to drive to the grocery store so that I can buy food.  The list goes on and on.  Minerals make all my daily routines a reality.  Without them, life would be so much different.  Yet, it wasn't until I registered to take this class that I realized the true importance of minerals in my everyday life.  Even though I see the great impact of minerals in my life, I also am concerned with the negative impact of them as well.  I have heard horror stories of pollution caused by the extraction of minerals.  In this class, I hope to learn the basic concepts regarding minerals but I also hope to learn.
MINERAL IDENTIFICATION KEY by Alan Plante  &  Donald Peck We wish to make this key available to one and all in the hope of correct identification of minerals in collections, rock gardens, and on windowsills everywhere. You may copy it, or any part of it, for non-commercial, personal use. We thank Lloyd Brown, David Jacobson, and Alfred Ostrander. Their excellent advice and encouragement in this project was extremely helpful. ©  2000,  Alan Plante & Donald Peck Table of Contents Introduction This Mineral Key is designed and intended for use on-line. It is intended also to be used in conjunction with one or more other field guides to minerals: Once the Key leads the user to one or more likely suspects details on them should be looked up in another book in order to make a final determination. The premise behind this Key is similar to that of the identification keys found in some fern and wildflower books:  An artificial key is used to direct the user to the pages in the sections where further information on likely suspects are found. The information in the sections on mineral species is then used to narrow the choices to one or a few most likely species. Then more detailed information can be found in a mineral guide to make a final determination. Unlike most keys for wildflowers, this system for the identification of minerals is limited – both in scope and applicability. Only a couple hundred of the most common or usually seen mineral species are covered. Users may well come across rare species which are not covered here. The system also requires good enough samples of the minerals to perform the tests in the sections describing mineral species. It is probably not useful for the identification of micro-crystal samples. Still, it can help narrow down the search by eliminating the more common species as possibilities. If a sample of some unknown mineral does not key out.