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Earth Processes
Physical Properties of Minerals
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| luster | A qualitative measure of how light is reflected off the mineral. Classified as metallic or non metallic. (observation) |
| hardness | A quantitative measure of the resistance of the mineral to scratching. Classified by the Moh's scale or field scale of 1-10. |
| streak | The color (qualitative measure) of a mineral's powder. Classified by individual color. Determined by rubbing the mineral against unglazed tile. |
| density | The quantitative measure of mass per unit volume. Classified as g/ml or grams per milliliter. It is the most reliable of the properties. |
| color | The color of the mineral. Classified by the description of the color. Determined by observation. It is the least reliable because color is subjective. |