Summary:
- Minerals have physical properties that are used to identify them.
- The mineral’s physical properties are determined by its chemical composition and crystal structure.
- You can rarely identify a mineral only by its color.
- To identify most minerals, geologists use several properties.
- The most valuable diamonds are large, well-shaped and sparkly.
- Minerals that are opaque and shiny, like pyrite, are said to have a “metallic” luster.
- Six types of non-metallic luster are described below (Table below)