How can minerals be identified?
Because minerals are defined as specific chemicals with a crystalline structure, they have both distinctive chemical and physical properties. chemical properties Geologists rarely use chemical properties of minerals for identification purposes, unless it is a rare mineral. The one exception is the use of hydrochloric acid for distinguishing between calcite and dolomite. These two minerals fizz (produce gas bubbles) when cold hydrochloric acid is applied to them. Calcite fizzes profusely and quickly, while dolomite fizzes slowly. (The rate of reaction is also controlled by the type of surface; porous substances have greater surface area and thus produce more bubbles). physical properties Physical properties deal with the manner in which the atoms are bound within the crystal structure or how the mineral reacts with light. hardness Hardness is one of the most common properties used to identify minerals. Hardness refers to the ability of a mineral to resist being scratched or its ability
