RockScan directory
Minerals: How to Identify Minerals
To identify minerals, lead with measurable traits: Mohs hardness, streak, luster, and crystal habit — then rule out lookalikes. Open any mineral below for property checks, photo tips, and “how to identify …” depth; use the rock-types guide when your find is a rock mixture rather than a single mineral.
Quick field checks for minerals
Collectors win by stacking cheap tests: streak on unglazed porcelain, hardness vs glass or a knife, and whether cleavage planes repeat. Color is the least reliable cue — pyrite and gold, hematite and magnetite, fluorite and amethyst all need a second check. Each Batch-1 mineral page below lists the tells RockScan surfaces after photo ID so you can confirm before you file the specimen.
Featured how to identify minerals
Start with these deepened guides — each has a dedicated “how to identify …” checklist, lookalikes, and photo tips:
How to use this hub
Each minerals page covers the ID checklist, properties, lookalikes, photo tips, and FAQs — with a CTA to the online studio and the rock identifier app. Unsure where to start? Try what rock is this for photo-first ID, read rock vs mineral vs crystal, browse the full directory, or compare the other hubs: rocks, minerals, crystals.