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Introduction
Color
Streak
Transparency
Luster
Hardness
Cleavage
Fracture
Specific Gravity
Crystal Form
Mineral Matters
Regional Minerals
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Streak
When a mineral is rubbed firmly across an unglazed tile of white porcelain (a streak plate), it leaves a line of powder. This is called the streak. The color of the streak is always the same, whether or not the mineral has impurities. For example, quartz leaves a white streak, whether it's violet (amethyst), pink (rose quartz), or brown (smoky quartz).
The geode pictured here is lined with amethyst crystals.
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