Page 16 of your Earth Science Reference Table is a table of Properties of Common Minerals. A mineral occurs in nature, is made up of inorganic substances, and has a definite crystal structure. To identify an unknown mineral you can use this table. Check the luster, hardness, cleavage, fracture, streak, and color then follow the chart. With that information you can identify your mineral. It's just like figuring out a puzzle! Two easy minerals you can identify are Magnetite and Pyrite. MAGNETite has magnet in it's name and it is the only mineral that is magnetic. Pyrite is commonly known as fools gold because it is the same color as gold. An easy way to remember the name is to say "It's a pyrite life for me!" Pyrite looks like gold and sounds like pirate. Pirates like gold!
So remember MAGNETite and It's a Pyrite life for me!
