Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests. Demonstrations illustrated for lecture or laboratory. Another GeoShort by Scott Brande. For more GeoShorts, visit www.ezsnips.squarespace.com and Brande's video blog at: plus.google.com/+ScottBrande Video by Scott Brande.

Learn about luster as a property to help you identify a common mineral. Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests. Demonstrations illustrated for lecture or laboratory. Another GeoShort by Scott Brande.

Learn about, and test for, Mohs hardness as a property to help you identify a common mineral. Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests. Demonstrations illustrated for lecture or laboratory.

Learn about how to use a glass plate as a hardness test to help you identify a common mineral. Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests. Demonstrations illustrated for lecture or laboratory.

Learn about the Mohs hardness of a fingernail to help you identify a common mineral. Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests. Demonstrations illustrated for lecture or laboratory. Another GeoShort by Scott Brande.

Learn about bulk color as a property to help you identify a common mineral. Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests. Demonstrations illustrated for lecture or laboratory. Another GeoShort by Scott Brande.

Learn about magnetism as a property to help you identify a common mineral. Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests. Demonstrations illustrated for lecture or laboratory. Another GeoShort by Scott Brande.

Learn about the acid test chemical reaction as a property to help you identify a common mineral. Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests. Demonstrations illustrated for lecture or laboratory.

You may not have a museum quality crystal specimen for mineral identification. Other properties will help you to determine the name of the mineral. Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests.

Learn about various strategies to help you identify a common mineral. Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests. Demonstrations illustrated for lecture or laboratory. Another GeoShort by Scott Brande.

Learn about additional strategies to help you identify a common mineral. Educational video for teachers and students in an earth science or geology course. Instructions for identifying common minerals by observed properties and a few simple tests. Demonstrations illustrated for lecture or laboratory. Another GeoShort by Scott Brande.