Metallic Minerals

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

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
3
  • Iridescent blue, purple or copper red, tarnishes dark purple
  • conchoidal fracture
Bornite
©2006 Sean Tvelia