Which mineral property test is the best way to tell the difference between each type of mineral? Why?

Mineral Properties are:
-Luster
-Color
-Magnetism
-Hardness
-Streak
-Cleavage
There are other mineral properties like Odor and Taste.

The best way to determine the difference between each type of mineral is to consider multiple mineral properties. While each property can provide some information, they may not be sufficient on their own. However, collectively, these properties can help identify and distinguish different minerals accurately. Let's discuss the mineral properties you mentioned and why they are important:

1. Luster: Luster refers to how light reflects off a mineral's surface. It can be metallic, vitreous (glass-like), pearly, greasy, dull, etc. This property helps distinguish minerals with similar colors but different surface appearances.

2. Color: Color can vary within a mineral species, so it is not always a reliable property for distinguishing minerals. However, some minerals have distinct colors that can aid in identification, particularly when combined with other properties.

3. Magnetism: Magnetism is the ability of a mineral to be attracted to a magnet. It is a property possessed by a few specific minerals like magnetite. While not all minerals exhibit magnetism, this property can quickly differentiate magnetite from other minerals.

4. Hardness: Hardness refers to a mineral's resistance to scratching and is measured on the Mohs scale from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). By comparing the hardness of an unknown mineral to the known hardness of different minerals, you can determine its approximate hardness and potentially its identity.

5. Streak: Streak is the color of the powdered form of a mineral when it is scraped across a porcelain plate. Some minerals may have a different streak color than their external color, aiding in identification.

6. Cleavage: Cleavage refers to how a mineral breaks along smooth planes. This property can help distinguish minerals with similar appearances. For example, mica has perfect cleavage, while quartz lacks cleavage.

While odor and taste are indeed additional mineral properties, they are often less reliable and not commonly used for mineral identification due to safety concerns and subjective interpretations.

In summary, no single mineral property can definitively identify all minerals. Instead, a combination of various properties, such as luster, color, magnetism, hardness, streak, and cleavage, should be considered to accurately distinguish between different minerals.