mineralkarakterer

Mineralkarakterer, often translated as mineral characters or mineral traits, refers to the descriptive properties used to identify and differentiate between different mineral species. These characteristics are observable and measurable, forming the basis of mineralogy. Key mineral characters include physical properties such as color, streak, luster, hardness, cleavage, fracture, specific gravity, and often special properties like magnetism or fluorescence.

Color is the perceived hue of a mineral, though it can be variable due to impurities. Streak is the color of a mineral's powder when rubbed against an unglazed ceramic plate, a more consistent identifier than external color. Luster describes how light reflects off the mineral's surface, with common terms including metallic, vitreous, and dull. Hardness is determined by the Mohs hardness scale, a relative measure of a mineral's resistance to scratching.

Cleavage refers to the tendency of a mineral to break along specific planes of weakness, while fracture describes how a mineral breaks when it does not cleave. Specific gravity is the ratio of a mineral's density to the density of water. Additional properties like the ability to form distinct crystals, their shape, and optical phenomena are also considered important mineral characters. Together, these observable traits allow geologists and mineralogists to classify and identify the vast array of minerals found on Earth.