What is the best property to start mineral identification with?

Begin with lustre, then combine hardness, streak, cleavage or fracture, magnetism, crystal habit, relative heft, and geologic context. No single property, especially colour, should decide the identification.

Can I identify a mineral by colour alone?

No. Impurities, weathering, coatings, and lighting can change colour, while unrelated minerals can look similar. Colour is useful only when combined with several independent properties.

What do soft, medium, and hard mean in this chart?

Soft contains ranges entirely at 3 or below, medium includes ranges between 3 and 5.5, and hard includes ranges reaching 5.5 or above. A mineral whose reported hardness spans the medium-to-hard boundary can appear in both bands.

Is this chart a laboratory identification?

No. It is a field-screening and learning reference for forming a defensible shortlist. Health, value, engineering, environmental, or regulatory decisions require qualified examination or laboratory evidence.

GeoMiner Free earth-science tools

Built by a geologist

Mineral Identification Chart: 21 Common Minerals

Compare 21 common minerals using physical properties that can be observed and tested together: Mohs hardness, metallic or non-metallic lustre, powder streak, cleavage or fracture, and a diagnostic clue. The chart covers amphibole, biotite, calcite, chalcopyrite, dolomite, fluorite, galena, garnet, graphite, gypsum, halite, hematite, magnetite, muscovite, olivine, plagioclase feldspar, potassium feldspar, pyrite, pyroxene, quartz, and sulfur. Search and filter controls run privately in the browser and are not sent to GeoMiner. Every row links to its University of Minnesota property source and to a relevant GeoMiner reference page or honestly labelled representative example. Mineral hardness ranges can overlap more than one filter band. Use at least two independent properties and geologic context, challenge the shortlist with contradictory evidence, and prefer non-destructive observations. Never taste unknown material or casually create dust, fumes, fresh breakage, or an acid reaction. This free chart is an educational field-screening reference, not a laboratory identification, assay, appraisal, engineering decision, or safety clearance.

Quick ID by observed properties — Turn several chart observations into a ranked, account-free reference shortlist.
Printable mineral worksheet — Record evidence, alternatives, contradictory clues, and the safest next test.
Safer mineral test procedures — Review hardness, streak, magnetism, cleavage, and density methods before testing.
Rock and mineral identification chart — Decide whether an unknown is better treated as a rock, a dominant mineral, or manufactured material.
Mineral reference catalogue — Explore source-backed properties, occurrence, safety, and related materials.

Verification resources

Cross-check terminology, classification, methods, and safety with these authoritative external resources.

undefined. Educational property profiles for the 21 minerals compared in this chart.
undefined. A property-led mineral identification framework and terminology reference.

Read GeoMiner's editorial methodology.

Common questions

What is the best property to start mineral identification with?: Begin with lustre, then combine hardness, streak, cleavage or fracture, magnetism, crystal habit, relative heft, and geologic context. No single property, especially colour, should decide the identification.
Can I identify a mineral by colour alone?: No. Impurities, weathering, coatings, and lighting can change colour, while unrelated minerals can look similar. Colour is useful only when combined with several independent properties.
What do soft, medium, and hard mean in this chart?: Soft contains ranges entirely at 3 or below, medium includes ranges between 3 and 5.5, and hard includes ranges reaching 5.5 or above. A mineral whose reported hardness spans the medium-to-hard boundary can appear in both bands.
Is this chart a laboratory identification?: No. It is a field-screening and learning reference for forming a defensible shortlist. Health, value, engineering, environmental, or regulatory decisions require qualified examination or laboratory evidence.

JavaScript is loading the interactive GeoMiner experience. The identification tools provide educational candidates, not laboratory confirmation.

Mineral Identification Chart: 21 Common Minerals

Use the common-mineral chart with GeoMiner

Verification resources

Common questions