10 Steps to Identify Minerals - Start with the Specimen. Learning mineral identification is like learning to cook.
You begin by following step-by-step procedures and looking up a lot of things. But after a while you notice regularities, become familiar with the usual suspects, make some productive mistakes, and get better at it until it becomes easy and fun. Another way mineral identification is like cooking is that professionals can go to school, learn to use expensive equipment and master the subject fully, yet amateurs can handle nearly all the common possibilities using just a few simple tools.
The first thing to do is to observe and test your mineral. (Review "What Is a Mineral? " Transparency. Luster. Texture.
Crystal Habit - The way crystals naturally form is their habit. Interactive Rock Key. The Rock Identification Key - by Don PeckRock Key Table of Contents What Are Rocks?
Rocks are what the crust of the earth is made of. They are the mountains and the bottom of the ocean. They are everywhere on earth, but often buried under soil. Mineral Identification - This interactive app. guides you make step-by-step identification of rocks.