8/20/2019 Tablas Para La Identificacion de Minerales
1/10
GUIA DE IDENTIFICACIÓN DE MINERALES
Lustre:
metálico / submetálico / no metálico
Lustre Metálico Generalmente con raya de color, opacos
RAYA DUREZA COLOR REMARKS NOMBRE
Black 1 Steelgray
S.G. 2.0Basal cleavage; Soft, marks on paper, greasy feel.Used in lubricants and pencils.
GRAPHITEGRAFITO
Iron-black 1-2 Black S.G. 4.8Radiating fibers, granular masses, or dendritic; sooty.
An ore of manganese.
PYROLUSITEPYROLUSITA
Yellowbrown
1 to 5 Yellow
brown toblack
S.G. 3.3 to 4.0Your basic rust. Many forms and lusters. Occurs asflattened crystals, massive, reniform, or stalactitic.Common secondary mineral in rocks and soils.
An ore of iron.
LIMONITELIMONITA
Redbrown to
Indian red 1 to 6.5
Steelgray
S.G. 4.8 to 5.3Many forms and lusters (can also occur in sub-metallic to non-metallic forms). Can be massive,radiating, botryoidal, and micaceous. The crystalline(metallic and sub-metallic) varieties are generallyharder than the earthy (non-metallic) varieties.
An ore of iron.
HEMATITEHEMATITA
Gray
2.5
Gray
S.G. 7.6Perfect cubic cleavage (3 @ 90°); Occurs in cubes;may be massive or granular; heavy. The mostcommon ore of lead.
GALENA
Light grayto silver
2.5
Silverywhite,
tarnishesto black
S.G. 10 to 12Hackly fracture, easily distinguished from galena bylack of cleavage. Malleable and ductile. Used incoinage, fillings for teeth, jewelry, silverplate,photography, wires.
SILVERPLATA
Yellow
2.5 to 3.0
Pale togoldenyellow
S.G. 19.3Hackly fracture. Malleable and ductile. Used incoinage, fillings for teeth, jewelry, goldplate.Extensive use in computer industry as non-corrosivecontact points for silicon chips.
GOLDORO
Gray toblack
3.0
Bronze,tarnishesto dark
blue andpurple
S.G. 4.9 to 5.4Commonly called "peacock ore" because of thepurple shine when it tarnishes.
A common source of copper.
BOURNITEBOURNITA
Copperred
3.0
Copperred
S.G. 8.5 to 9.0Malleable and ductile. Used in coins, pipes, wires,gutters, cooking utensils, pots and pans, jewelry,decorative items.
KOPERCOBRE
Greenish- 4
Brass S.G. 4.3 CHALCOPYRITE
8/20/2019 Tablas Para La Identificacion de Minerales
2/10
black yellow The distinctive buttery yellow color is often tarnishedpurple or gray; yellower and softer than pyrite.
An ore of copper.
CALCOPIRITA
Chocolatebrown
5.5
Black todark
brown
S.G. 4.6Distinctive chocolate brown streak. Commonly occursas stratabound deposits in dunite segregations inultramafic rocks, and as podiform masses inserpentinite. Used in stainless steel, hightemperature alloys, and as refractory bricks.The ore of chromium.
CHROMITE
CROMITA
Black
6
Black
S.G. 5.2Conchoidal fracture. Strongly magnetic. Often called"lodestone." Common accessory mineral occurring asdisseminated grains in mafic igneous rocks.
An ore of iron.
MAGNETITEMAGNETITA
Black togreenish
6 Palebrass
S.G. 5.0Often in cubic crystals. Can be massive, granular.Common name: "Fool's gold." Commonly alters tolimonite.Sometimes mined as a source of sulfur.
PYRITEPIRITA
LUSTRE: Sub metálico
RAYA DUREZA COLOR REMARKS NOMBRE
Yellow-brown
1 to 5.5
Yellow todark brown
S.G. 3.3 to 4.0.Your basic rust. Many forms and lusters. Occurs asflattened crystals, massive, reniform, or stalactitic.Common secondary mineral in rocks and soils.
An ore of iron.
LIMONITELIMONITA
Redbrown toIndian
red
1 to 6.5 Red,
vermillion
S.G. 4.8 to 5.3Many forms and lusters (can also occur in sub-metallicto non-metallic forms). Can be massive, radiating,botryoidal, and micaceous. The crystalline (metallicand sub-metallic) varieties are generally harder thanthe earthy (non-metallic) varieties.
An ore of iron.
HEMATITEHEMATITA
8/20/2019 Tablas Para La Identificacion de Minerales
3/10
LUSTRE: No-metálico. Raya incolora o de color muy claro
Dureza: < 2.5 / 2.5 a 3.5 / 3.5 a 5.5 / >5.5
Dureza: < 2.5
se marca con la uña del pulgar)
DUREZA PATRON DRUPTURA
COLOR SP.GR.
REMARKS NOMBRE
1
Goodcleavage in1 direction
White,green,pink
2.7
Easily scratched with fingernail.Flexible but not elastic; foliated; slickor soapy feeling. Typical luster:pearly to waxy. Used on baby's butts,and in paints, ceramics, rubber,insecticides, and paper. Variety
SOAPSTONE can be carved intoornamental shapes and items.
TALCTALCO
1-2
Fracture
White,tan, gray
2-3
Earthy; clayey odor. Earthy to dullluster. A swelling clay, used to stopleaks in soils, rocks, dams, andbasement walls. Due to its excellentwater-retention properties, it is alsoused as a soil additive and kitty litter.
MONTMOR-ILLONITE
MONTMORILONITA
1-3
Unevenfracture
Yellowbrown to
red
2-3
Not truly a mineral (lacks fixedchemical composition). Earthy topisolitic (large round grains). Earthy,dull to waxy lusters.
The most important ore of aluminum.
BAUXITEBAUXITA
1-5.5 Conchoidal
fracture
Yellow,brown to
black
2.7-4.3
Your basic rust. Many forms andlusters. Occurs as flattened crystals,massive, reniform, or stalactitic.Common secondary mineral in rocksand soils. An ore of iron.
LIMONITELIMONITA
1-6
Irregularfracture
Brown,red, steel
gray
4.8to
5.3
Many forms and lusters (can alsooccur in metallic forms). Can bemassive, radiating, botryoidal, andmicaceous. The crystalline (metallicand sub-metallic) varieties aregenerally harder than the earthy
(non-metallic) varieties. An ore ofiron.
HEMATITEHEMATITA
1.5-2.5 Conchoidalto unevenfracture
Yellow 2.1
Characteristic bright yellow color;when small pieces are held in thehand close to the ear, crackling canbe heard due to rapid, uneventhermal expansion. Pearly, waxy,resinous, to dull lusters. Used tomake sulfuric acid, fertilizers,insecticides, explosives (kaBoom),and medicines.
SULFUR AZUFRE
2 No White, 2.6 Earthy; clayey odor; absorbs KAOLINITE
8/20/2019 Tablas Para La Identificacion de Minerales
4/10
macroscopiccleavage
oftencolored byimpurities
moisture so rapidly that it will stick tothe tongue. Earthy to dull lusters.Used in refractories, china, pottery
and as a filler in paper. Also used insoft-serve ice cream to retard meltingon hot summer days.
KAOLINITA
2
1 direction,perfect, 2directions,
good
Colorless,white,gray,gray-
brown,pink
reddish
2.3
As crystals and broad cleavageflakes with waxy to pearly to vitreouslusters (selenite variety); as compactfine-grained masses showing novisible cleavage, earthy to dull towaxy lusters (alabaster variety); asfibers with satiny luster (satin sparvariety). Large crystals somewhatflexible, but not elastic. Used to makePlaster of Paris and sheetrock
wallboard (drywall).
GYPSUMYESO
2-2.5
1 direction
Darkgreen togreen-black
2.7
Thin sheets are flexible, but notelastic. Lusters typically resinous,waxy, vitreous or dull. A commonalteration mineral found in maficigneous rocks (alteration of theferromagnesian minerals to chloriteresults in the greenish tint commonto altered basalt, and the re-namingof the rock "greenstone."
CHLORITE
CLORITA
2-3
Wavy,
unevenfracture
Greenand white
2.5
Platy or fibrous; waxy luster whenmassive, satiny luster when fibrous
(asbestos variety). Used as aninsulating material against heat andelectricity.
SERPENTINESERPENTINITA
2.5
3 directions,perfect,cubic
Whitewhen
pure; maybe red,
blue, pink
2.1to
2.3
In granular cleavable masses orcubic crystals. Soluble in water; saltytaste. Typical lusters: vitreous, waxy,dull. Common salt: used as a sourceof sodium compounds andhydrochloric acid; used to salthighways in winter; used as aseasoning and preservative in food.
HALITEHALITA
2.5 1 direction
perfect
Palebrown,green,yellow
2.8
Common silicate mineral in felsic
igneous rocks and low to mediumgrade metamorphic rocks. In foliatedmasses and scales. Transparent,flexible and elastic sheets. Vitreousto pearly luster. Used as insulatingmaterial in electrical appliances andas a fireproofing material. Also,Muscovite was used as windowsbefore the invention of plate glass,was common as the rear window inearly model convertible cars, and isstill used as the front view-screen inmany "fire-view" type wood stoves.
MUSCOVITE MICAMUSCOVITA
8/20/2019 Tablas Para La Identificacion de Minerales
5/10
2.5 to 3.0
1 direction,perfect
Dark
brown,green to
black
3.0
Common ferromagnesian silicatemineral in felsic to intermediateigneous rocks and low to medium
grade metamorphic rocks. Inirregular foliated masses and scales.Translucent, somewhat flexible andelastic sheets. Pearly to vitreousluster. Forms hexagonal crystals.
BIOTITE
MICA
BIOTITA
LUSTRE: No-metálico
Raya Incolora o de Color Claro
Dureza: 2.5 a 3.5 no se puede marcar con uña ni con moneda de cobre)
DUREZA
PATRON DRUPTURA
COLOR
SP.GR.
REMARKS
NOMBRE
1-5.5 Conchoidal
fracture
Yellow,brown to
black
2.7-4.3
Your basic rust. Many forms and lusters.Occurs as flattened crystals, massive,reniform, or stalactitic. Commonsecondary mineral in rocks and soils. Anore of iron.
LIMONITELIMONITA
1-6 Irregularfracture
Brown, red,steel gray
4.8to
5.3
Many forms and lusters (can also occur inmetallic forms). Can be massive,radiating, botryoidal, and micaceous. Thecrystalline (metallic and sub-metallic)varieties are generally harder than theearthy (non-metallic) varieties. An ore ofiron.
HEMATITEHEMATITA
2-3
Wavy,unevenfracture
Green andwhite
2.5
Platy or fibrous; waxy luster whenmassive, satiny luster when fibrous(asbestos variety). Used as an insulatingmaterial against heat and electricity.
SERPENTINESERPENTINITA
2.5 3 directions,
perfect,cubic
Whitewhen pure;
may bered, blue,
pink
2.1to
2.3
In granular cleavable masses or cubiccrystals. Soluble in water; salty taste.Typical lusters: vitreous, waxy, dull.Common salt: used as a source ofsodium compounds and hydrochloricacid; used to salt highways in winter;used as a seasoning and preservative infood.
HALITEHALITA
2.5 1 direction
perfect
Palebrown,green,yellow
2.8
Common silicate mineral in felsic igneousrocks and low to medium grademetamorphic rocks. In foliated massesand scales. Transparent, flexible andelastic sheets. Vitreous to pearly luster.Used as insulating material in electricalappliances and as a fireproofing material.
Also, Muscovite was used as windowsbefore the invention of plate glass, wascommon as the rear window in earlymodel convertible cars, and is still usedas the front view-screen in many "fire-
MUSCOVITEMICA
MUSCOVITA
8/20/2019 Tablas Para La Identificacion de Minerales
6/10
view" type wood stoves.
2.5 to 3.0 1 direction,
perfect
Darkbrown,
green toblack
3.0
Common ferromagnesian silicate mineralin felsic to intermediate igneous rocks andlow to medium grade metamorphic rocks.In irregular foliated masses and scales.Translucent, somewhat flexible andelastic sheets. Pearly to vitreous luster.Forms hexagonal crystals.
BIOTITEMICA
BIOTITA
2.5 to 3.0 3 directions,
perfect@75°
Clear,translucent,
darkbrown,
green toblack
2.7
Crystals in many forms. Occurs as largegranular masses (limestone and marble)
and fine granular or fibrous masses inwhich cleavage not prominent; alsocompact masses. Effervesces in cold,dilute HCl. Typical lusters: vitreous,pearly, waxy. Used in manufacture ofcement, crushed stone, and asagricultural lime.
CALCITE
CALCITA
3 to 3.5
1 direction,perfect, 2directions,
good
White orgray
4.5
Crystals usually tabular or bladed.Barite's distinctive characteristic is itsspecific gravity, which is very high for anonmetallic mineral. Typical lusters:vitreous, pearly to dull. Used in powderform to give weight to drilling muds in
order to prevent "blow-outs" of oil and gaswells, and to maintain the stability of thehole in diamond core and rotary drilling.
BARITE
BARITA
LUSTRE: No-metálico Raya Incolora o de Color Claro
Dureza: 3.5 a 5.5 se marca con moneda cobre pero no con vidrio/navaja)
DUREZA PATRON DRUPTURA
COLOR SP.GR.
REMARKS NOMBRE
1-5.5 Conchoidal
fracture
Yellow,brown to
black
2.7-4.3
Your basic rust. Many forms and lusters.Occurs as flattened crystals, massive, reniform,or stalactitic. Common secondary mineral inrocks and soils. An ore of iron.
LIMONITELIMONITA
1-6 Irregularfracture
Brown,red,steelgray
4.8to5.3
Many forms and lusters (can also occur inmetallic forms). Can be massive, radiating,botryoidal, and micaceous. The crystalline(metallic and sub-metallic) varieties aregenerally harder than the earthy (non-metallic)varieties. An ore of iron.
HEMATITEHEMATITA
8/20/2019 Tablas Para La Identificacion de Minerales
7/10
3.5 to 4.0
3 directions,perfect at
75°
White,pink,
brown,gray,etc.
2.9
Usually harder than a penny. As crystals withcurved faces (twisted rhombs), and as granularmasses (dolostone, dolomitic marble).
Effervesces in cold, dilute HCl only ifpowdered. Typical lusters: vitreous, pearly,waxy. Used as a building and decorative stone.
DOLOMITE
DOLOMITA
3.5 to 4.0 Perfect
cleavage in6 directions
Yellowto
brown,black,
reddishbrown
4
Usually massive. All six cleavages rarely seenon a single specimen. Luster typically resinous,but may be adamantine on well developedcrystals. The most important ore of zinc.
SPHALERITE
ESFALERITA
3.5 to 4.0
3 directions,perfect,
rhombic
Light todark
brown;maroon
4
As crystals with curved faces; usuallycleavable; sometimes in granular masses.Effervesces in dilute HCl only if powdered.
Typical lusters: vitreous, pearly, waxy. A minorore of iron.
SIDERITE
SIDERITA
4.0 Good in 4directions,octahedral
Purple,green toyellow,
colorless
3.2
Well-formed cubic crystals, and also massive.Typical lusters: vitreous, pearly. Used inproduction of hydrofluoric acid, and as a flux insteel making. The fluorine used in fluoridationof public drinking water supplies andtoothpastes comes from fluorite.
FLUORITE
FLUORITA
5.0
Poorcleavage, 1
direction
Green tobrown
3.2
Massive and granular. Vitreous luster when ilarge crystals; earthy luster when in fine-grained earthy masses. High quality crystalsare used as semiprecious gemstones. Most
important use is as source of phosphate forfertilizers.
APATITE
APATITO
5.0 to 6.0
2 directions,good, at
approx. 60°and 120°
Black togreen
3.0to3.3
Crystals slender, fibrous. Often look like long,skinny rods. Commonly occur in cleavagefragments or granular masses. Typical lusters;vitreous to dull. HORNBLENDE is a commonferromagnesian mineral in intermediate silicaterocks (granitic to dioritic composition).
AMPHIBOLEGROUP
ANFIBOL
5.0 to 7.0
Good in 1direction
Blue togreen
3.6
In bladed aggregates. Cleavage parallel tolength of crystals. Hardness variable. Typicallusters: vitreous, pearly, dull. Used inmanufacture of spark plugs and other high
refractory porcelains.
KYANITE
5.5 to 6.0
2 directions,poor to fair,at approx.
90°
Green toblack
3.1to3.5
Crystals "stubby" with nearly rectangular crosssection. Commonly in granular or crystallinemasses. Typical lusters: vitreous to dull.Common ferromagnesian mineral in mafic toultramafic silicate rocks.
PYROXENEGROUP
PIROXENO
LUSTRE: No-metálico Raya Incolora o de Color Claro
8/20/2019 Tablas Para La Identificacion de Minerales
8/10
Dureza: >5.5 se marca con un vidrio/navaja)
HARD
BREAKAGEPATTERN
COLOR
SP.GR. REMARKS
NAME
5.0 to6.0
2 directions,good at
approx. 60°and 120°
Black togreen
3.0to
3.3
Crystals slender, fibrous. Often look like long,skinny rods. Commonly occur in cleavagefragments or granular masses. Typical lusters;vitreous to dull. HORNBLENDE is a commonferromagnesian mineral in intermediatesilicate rocks (granitic to dioritic composition).
AMPHIBOLEGROUP
ANFIBOL
5.0 to7.0
Good in 1direction
Blue togreen
3.6
In bladed aggregates. Cleavage parallel tolength of crystals. Hardness variable. Typicallusters: vitreous, pearly, dull. Used in themanufacture of spark plugs and other highrefractory porcelains.
KYANITE
CIANITA
5.5 to6.0
2 directions,poor to fairat approx.
90°
Green toblack
3.1to
3.5
Crystals "stubby" with nearly rectangularcross section. Commonly in granular orcrystalline masses. Typical lusters: vitreous todull. A common ferromagnesian mineral inmafic to ultramafic silicate rocks.
PYROXENEGROUP
PIROXENO
6.0
2 directions,good at 90°
Colorless,white,
pink, red,gray,
green,blue
2.5to
2.6
As cleavable masses or irregular grains inrocks; as crystals in pegmatites and someigneous bodies. Luster generally vitreous topearly. Used in manufacture of someporcelains. Orthoclase is the commonfeldspar found in felsic silicate rocks.Common varieties include MICROCLINE
(pink), and AMAZONITE (blue).
ORTHOCLASEFELDSPAR GROUP
ORTOCLASA GpoFELDESPATO
6.0 2 directions,good at 86°
Colorless,white,gray toblack
2.6to
2.8
In cleavable masses or irregular grains.Striations common on cleavage planes. Lustergenerally vitreous to pearly. Used inmanufacture of some ceramics. Forms acontinuous series from the calcium rich varietyto the sodium-rich variety (refer to Bowen'sReaction Series). Plagioclase is the commonfeldspar found in intermediate to mafic silicaterocks.
PLAGIOCLASEFELDSPAR GROUP
PLAGIOCLASAGpo.FELDESPATO
6.5
Unevenfracture
Red tobrown
4.3
Usually in 12 or 24 sided crystals (commonlyas porphyroblasts in schists): also massive.
No cleavage, but some samples may exhibitparting. Typical lusters: resinous, vitreous,dull. Used as an abrasive: well formedcrystals may be used as gemstones.
GARNET
GRANATE
6.5 to7.0
Conchoidalfracture
Olivegreen toyellowgreen
3.3to
3.4
Usually as disseminated grains in maficigneous rocks; as granular masses havingsaccharoidal texture (looks like grains ofsugar). Luster generally vitreous. Mined forrefractory sand used in casting industry. Acommon ferromagnesian mineral in mafic toultramafic silicate rocks.
OLIVINE
OLIVINO
8/20/2019 Tablas Para La Identificacion de Minerales
9/10
7.0
Conchoidalfracture
Colorlessor whitewhen
pure, butmay be
any color
2.6
As crystals with hexagonal cross section,often with striations on prism faces. Also ascrystalline masses, granular aggregates,
irregular grains, etc. Luster generally vitreousto greasy. Varieties include MILKY (white tocloudy, usually due to included microscopicair bubbles); SMOKEY (gray to black); ROSE (pink); AMETHYST (violet). Used as agemstone, to make glass, as a source ofsilicon for the computer industry, a flux, afiller, and an abrasive.
QUARTZ
CUARZO
7.0 Conchoidal
fracture
Various
colors
2.6
Translucent to opaque. Varieties include AGATE (massive to banded, many colors);FLINT (dark gray to blue); CHERT (light-colored, white to gray); JASPER (commonlyred but can include many hues); OPAL (milk-
white, yellow, green, red, multi hued with"fire," waxy luster); CHALCEDONY (brown togray, fibrous to botryoidal). Agate and opalare used as gemstones.
MICRO-CRYSTALLINE
QUARTZ
CUARZOMICROCRISTALINO
7.0 to7.5
Cleavagenot
prominent
Varied;black
common 3.2
Usually in trigonal prismatic crystals withprominent lengthwise-running striations.Typical lusters: vitreous to dull. Well-formedand colored crystals used as gemstones.Commonly occur in prgmatite dikes, and inhigher grade metamorphic rocks.
TOURMALINE
TURMALINA
7.0 to7.5
Cleavagenotprominent
Red-
brown tobrownish-
black
3.7
Cruciform twin crystals common; alsoelongate bladed crystals with rhombic cross
sections. Luster resinous to vitreous whenunaltered; dull to earthy when altered orimpure. Well-formed, cross-shaped twinsused in jewelry ("Fairy Crosses").
STAUROLITE
ESTAUROLITA
8.0 Imperfectcleavage
Green toyellow
2.7
Hexagonal, prismatic crystals. Lustergenerally vitreous. Used as a source ofberyllium for metal alloys. High quality crystalsused as gemstomes.
BERYL
BERILO
8.0 1 direction,
poor
Colorless,pink,
yellow
3.5
Prismatic crystals, crystalline or granularmasses. Luster generally vitreous. Highquality crystals used as gemstone.
TOPAZ
TOPACIO
9.0 Parting, no
truecleavage
Brown,pink,
ruby-red 4.0
Crystals generally hexagonal prisms,commonly barrel-shaped. Basal partingcommon. Typical lusters: vitreous to dull.Used as an abrasive; high quality, coloredcrystals used as gemstones: RUBY (red),SAPPHIRE (blue).
CORUNDUM
CORUNDO/CORINDON
10
4 directions
Colorless,pale
yellow 3.5
Uncut crystals have a characteristic greasyappearance; well-formed crystals areoctahedral. Luster: adamantine. Industrialdiamonds (borts) used as abrasives; highquality diamonds used as gemstones.
DIAMOND
DIAMANTE
8/20/2019 Tablas Para La Identificacion de Minerales
10/10
GRUPO DEL FELDESPATO
SERIE DE REACCIONES DE BOWEN