Streak and Special Properties

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Streak and Special Properties
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Streak

• Another reliable way of telling minerals apart is
  using streak color
• All minerals have a specific color when rubbed
  against a plain piece of tile thats called a
  streak plate
• The line of color created on the streak plate is
  called streak color

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Streak Color

• Streak color isnt always the color youd expect
• Example hematite
• Some minerals have no color streak.
• No streak color is also considered a property for
  identifying a mineral

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Special Properties

• SOME minerals (but not all) have special
  characteristics other minerals dont
• Smell (Sulfur, Kaolinite)
• Feel (Talc)
• Reaction to acid (Calcite)
• Magnetic (Magnetite)
• Taste (Halite, Kaolinite, Talc)
• Glow under blacklight (Opal, Calcite)
• These are called special properties
• Its not a good way to identify all minerals, but
  its helpful for a few