We use our senses of sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste to become
aware of the world around us. For example, we recognize a flower by
noting its color, its fragrance, and the texture, shape, and arrangement
of its petals. These are some of its characteristic properties. A
mineral also has distinguishing properties, among them color, luster,
and hardness, which help us identify it. Some minerals have a single
outstanding property, such as the magnetism of magnetite, that makes
them easier to recognize. But to identify most minerals, we need to
determine not just one, but several properties.
[Illustration: Chalcedony showing botryoidal form.]