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

The best way to tell the difference between each type of mineral is by examining their physical properties. One of the most important mineral properties to consider is hardness. Hardness refers to a mineral's resistance to being scratched.

To determine the hardness of a mineral, you can use the Mohs Scale of Hardness. This scale consists of minerals of known hardness and ranks them from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest). You can perform a scratch test by trying to scratch the mineral in question with minerals of known hardness. If the mineral being tested is scratched, its hardness is lower than the mineral that scratched it. If it doesn't scratch, its hardness is higher than the mineral being tested. By comparing the results with the Mohs Scale, you can determine the approximate hardness of the mineral.

Other physical properties that can help distinguish minerals include color, luster (appearance of a mineral's surface in reflected light), crystal shape, streak (the color of the powdered mineral), cleavage (how a mineral breaks along flat surfaces), and specific gravity (the density of a mineral compared to the density of water).

By considering a combination of these physical properties and conducting tests such as the scratch test, you can effectively differentiate between different types of minerals.