Rock Identifier

Mineral identification properties

Hardness, luster, streak and crystal system for 36 common minerals: the properties you can test to confirm what a stone is. Each row comes from that mineral's Wikipedia article, cited on its page.

Mineral identification properties
MineralMohs hardnessLusterStreakCrystal system
Apatite5 (defining mineral)Vitreous to subresinousWhiteHexagonal
Augite5.5 to 6Vitreous, resinous to dullGreenish-whiteMonoclinic
Azurite3.5 to 4VitreousLight blueMonoclinic
Baryte3–3.5Vitreous, pearlyWhiteOrthorhombic
Beryl7.5–8.0Vitreous to resinousWhiteHexagonal
Biotite2.5–3.0Vitreous to pearlyWhiteMonoclinic
Calcite3 (defining mineral)Vitreous to pearly on cleavage surfacesWhiteTrigonal
Chalcopyrite3.5–4MetallicGreenish blackTetragonal
Corundum9 (defining mineral)Adamantine to vitreousColorlessTrigonal
Diamond10 (defining mineral)AdamantineColorlessCubic
Dolomite3.5–4.0Vitreous to pearlyWhiteTrigonal
Epidote6–7Vitreous to resinousGreyish whiteMonoclinic
Fluorite4 (defining mineral)VitreousWhiteIsometric
Galena2.5–2.75Metallic on cleavage planesLead grayCubic
Garnet6.5–7.5vitreous to resinousWhiteIsometric
Gypsum1.5–2 (defining mineral for 2)Vitreous to silky, pearly, or waxyWhiteMonoclinic
Halite2.0–2.5VitreousWhiteCubic
Hematite5.5–6.5Metallic to splendentBright red to dark redTrigonal
Hornblende5–6Vitreous to dullPale gray, gray-white, white, colorlessMonoclinic
Kyanite4.5–5 parallel to one axis, 6.5–7 perpendicular to that axisVitreous to whiteWhiteTriclinic
Labradorite6–6.5Vitreous to pearly on cleavagesWhiteTriclinic
Magnetite5.5–6.5MetallicBlackIsometric
Malachite3.5–4Adamantine to vitreous; silky if fibrous; dull to earthy if massivelight greenMonoclinic
Microcline6–6.5VitreousWhiteTriclinic
Muscovite2–2.5 parallel to {001}, 4 right angle to {001}Vitreous, silky, pearlyWhiteMonoclinic
Olivine6.5–7.0Vitreouscolorless or whiteOrthorhombic
Orthoclase6 (defining mineral)Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfacesWhiteMonoclinic
Pyrite6–6.5Metallic, glisteningGreenish-black to brownish-blackCubic
Quartz7 – lower in impure varieties (defining mineral)Vitreous – waxy to dull when massiveWhiteα-quartz: trigonal, β-quartz: hexagonal
Rhodochrosite3.5–4Vitreous to pearlyWhiteTrigonal
Sphalerite3.5–4Adamantine, resinous, greasybrownish white, pale yellowCubic
Talc1 (defining mineral)Waxy or pearlyMonoclinic or triclinic
Topaz8 (defining mineral)VitreousGrayish WhiteOrthorhombic
Tourmaline7.0–7.5Vitreous, sometimes resinousWhiteTrigonal
Turquoise5–6Waxy to subvitreousBluish whiteTriclinic
Zircon7.5Vitreous to adamantine; greasy when metamict.WhiteTetragonal

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