A. Can be scratched by a fingernail
Amphibole asbestos White Made up of 1-2½
slender, flexible
fibers that can
be pulled apart
Cerargyrite Shiny white or Light greenish 1-1½
gray color; appears
waxy; knife cuts
it smoothly;
turns violet
brown to black
when exposed to
light
Muscovite (white White Light colored; 2-2½
mica) splits into thin,
flat, transparent
sheets that will
bend without
breaking
Sulfur White or pale Greenish; will 1½-2½
yellow burn with a blue
flame; commonly
found as
crystals, crusts,
or grains
Talc White Light greenish 1
color; knife cuts
it smoothly;
feels soapy or
greasy; splits
into thin flakes
B. Cannot be scratched by a fingernail but can be scratched by a copper
penny
Amphibole asbestos White Made up of 1-2½
slender, flexible
fibers that can
be pulled apart
Biotite (black mica) White Dark green; 2½-3
splits into thin,
flat, translucent
sheets that will
bend without
breaking
Calcite White Dilute 3
hydrochloric acid
fizzes on
calcite; perfect
cleavage in 3
directions gives
rhomb-shaped
fragments
Halite White Greenish tint; 2½
salty taste;
dissolves in
water;
cube-shaped
cleavage fragments
Muscovite (white White Light colored; 2-2½
mica) splits into thin,
flat, transparent
sheets that will
bend without
breaking
Serpentine White Two kinds: silky 2½-4
and fibrous, waxy
and platy
Sulfur White or pale Greenish; will 1½-2½
yellow burn with a blue
flame; commonly
found as
crystals, crusts,
or grains
C. Cannot be scratched by a copper penny but can be scratched by an
ordinary pocket knife
Fluorite White Cleavage in 4 4
directions can
give fragments
shaped like
octahedrons;
crystals commonly
cubes
Malachite Green Bright green 3½-4
color; dilute
hydrochloric acid
will fizz on
malachite
Serpentine White Two kinds: silky 2½-4
and fibrous, waxy
and platy
D. Cannot be scratched by an ordinary pocket knife but can be scratched
by quartz
Feldspar White Glassy or pearly 6
luster; good
cleavage in 2
directions that
meet at an angle
of 90° or near 90°
Garnet White Commonly occurs 6½-7
as crystals