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Special Properties of Minerals

Special Properties of Minerals. 1. Magnetism. Attracted to iron or other metals. Magnetite lodestone. 2. Feel. Many minerals have a unique “feel.” Graphite – greasy Talc - soapy. 3. Taste. Halite has a distinctive salty taste Also known as “ rock salt .”. 4. Smell.

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Special Properties of Minerals

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  1. Special Properties of Minerals

  2. 1. Magnetism Attracted to iron or other metals. • Magnetite • lodestone

  3. 2. Feel Many minerals have a unique “feel.” • Graphite – greasy • Talc - soapy

  4. 3. Taste Halite has a distinctive salty taste • Also known as “rock salt.”

  5. 4. Smell Sulfur has a distinctive odor: • Match heads • eggs

  6. 5. Striations Rigid, linear textures • pyrite

  7. 6. Double Refraction Decomposition of light into two rays when it passes through a substance • Iceland spar • Calcite

  8. 6. Optical Properties • Iridescence – appearance of the surface of a mineral to change colors • Chalcopyrite – “peacock ore” • Labrodyrite – “Schiller” • Opal

  9. Bad Idea

  10. 6. Optical Properties b. Chatoyancy and Asterism – internal reflection due to the fibrous structure of a mineral i. Sapphires ii. Rubies iii. Cat’ Eye

  11. Asterism

  12. 6. Optical Properties c. Total internal reflection – substance does not allow light to escape, and all of the light is reflected within the mineral. i. ulexilite crystals ii. Fiber optics

  13. Optical Properties Total Internal Reflection

  14. 6. Optical Properties d. Fluorescence – light that is absorbed by a substance and emitted at a longer wavelength and therefore a lower energy. i. calcite ii. fluorite

  15. 6. Optical Properties f. Polarized light - some minerals filter out certain wavelengths of light i. mica

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