MINERALSPhysical Properties

TALC

TALCColor – white, sea green, or grayLuster – pearlyHardness – 1Streak – white to pale grayCleavage – yesFracture – unevenUses – paint, baby powder, paper, rubber, cosmetics

GYPSUM

GYPSUM• Color – white, gray,

clear, yellow, red, brown

• Luster – glassy, pearly• Hardness – 2• Streak – white• Cleavage – yes• Fracture – fibrous or

thin• Uses – wallboard,

plaster, cement, plaster of Paris

CALCITE

CALCITEColor – white, gray, clear, yellow, red, brown, green, blue, or orangeLuster – glassyHardness – 3Streak – whiteCleavage – yesFracture – conchoidal (rounded)Uses – cement, medication, paint, soil treatment, concrete

FLUORITE

FLUORITEColor – purple, clear, yellow, green, red, blue, pink, blackLuster – glassyHardness – 4Streak – whiteCleavage – yesFracture – rounded to unevenUses – in drinking water, ornamental, stone

APATITE

APATITEColor – green, brown, blue, yellow, violet, clearLuster – glassy Hardness – 5Streak – whiteCleavage – noFracture – roundedUses – fertilizer, gemstone, part of teeth and bones

ORTHOCLASE (FELDSPAR)

ORTHOCLASE (FELDSPAR)

Color – white, reddish, pink, yellowLuster – glassyHardness – 6Streak – whiteCleavage – yesFracture – unevenUses – glass, ceramics, gemstone

QUARTZ (POINTS ON ROCK BASE)

QUARTZ (POINTS ON ROCK BASE)

Color – clear, white, green, brown, black, yellow, purple, gray, red, pinkLuster – glassyHardness – 7Streak – whiteCleavage – noFracture – conchoidal (rounded)Uses – glass making, optical, electronics

TOPAZ

TOPAZColor – green, yellow, amber, clear, white, blue, pinkLuster – glassyHardness – 8Streak – colorless, harder than streak plateCleavage – yesFracture – unevenUses – gemstone

CORUNDUM

CORUNDUM( U N C U T S A P P H I R E S )

Color – gray, white, brown, red,

green, yellow, blueLuster – glassyHardness – 9Streak – colorless, harder than streak plateCleavage – noFracture – conchoidal to unevenUses – abrasive, polishing, gemstone, sandpaper

DIAMOND

DIAMOND (CUT)

Color – clear, green, yellow, red, blue, brown, orange, blackLuster – brilliant Hardness – 10Streak – colorless, harder than streak plateCleavage – yesFracture – conchoidalUses – gemstone, abrasive

Pearly