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Introduction
Color
Streak
Transparency
Luster
Hardness
Cleavage
Fracture
Specific Gravity
Crystal Form
Mineral Matters
Regional Minerals
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Specific Gravity
Specific gravity is the density of a mineral. Special equipment is usually needed to find out a mineral’s exact specific gravity. With a little practice, you can guess a mineral’s specific gravity by hand. Some mineral samples will feel heavier than others, even if all your samples are the same size. The heavier ones have a greater specific gravity. Here are some examples of common minerals and their specific gravity ranges:
| Minerals |
Density |
Specific gravity |
| sulfur, graphite |
light |
1-2 |
| gypsum, quartz |
medium |
2-3 |
| fluorite, beryl |
medium heavy |
3-4 |
| corundum, most metal oxides |
heavy |
4-6 |
| native gold, platinum |
heaviest |
19 |
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