Metallic Minerals

So far the mineral you are identifying is a metallic mineral with a hardness greater than 5 that exhibits fracture

You now have enough information to begin identifying your mineral. The chart below contains all common rock forming minerals that have the specific properties you have described. To identify you mineral read through the following descriptions and determine which mineral best matches your sample

Hardness
Description
Mineral Name
Additional Data
5.5
  • Silvery black to black tarnishes gray
  • Uneven, irregular fracture
  • Weakly magnetic
  • Brown Streak
Chromite
 
5.5-6
  • Dark gray-black
  • magnetic
  • Black streak
Magnetite
 
6.5
  • Brass yellow
  • Conchoidal Fracture
  • Greenish black streak
Pyrite
6.5
  • Brass yellow, tarnishes dark brown or purple
Chalcopyrite
 
©2006 Sean Tvelia