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Done by scraping the mineral across an unglazed porcelain streak plate.Article by: , PhD, RPGThe Streak Test: Marks, known as "streaks," are produced by scraping mineral specimens across unglazed porcelain plates. On the left, a specimen of pyrite has produced a black streak. On the right, a specimen of rhodochrosite has produced a white streak. Many minerals produce a white streak, and some geologists prefer using a black streak plate for these minerals because the mineral particles in the streak are easier to observe. This photo by Ra'ike is used here under a GNU Free Document License. What is the Streak Test?The "streak test" is a method used to determine the color of a mineral in powdered form. The color of a mineral's powder is often a very important property for identifying the mineral. The streak test is done by scraping a specimen of the mineral across a piece of unglazed porcelain known as a "streak plate." This can produce a small amount of powdered mineral on the surface of the plate. The powder color of that mineral known as its "streak."
How to Conduct the Streak TestThe streak test should be done on clean, unweathered, or freshly broken specimens of the mineral. This is done to reduce the possibility that a contaminant, weathered coating, or tarnish will influence the results of the test. The preferred method for conducting a streak test is to pick up a representative specimen of the mineral with the hand that you write with. Select a representative point or protrusion on the specimen that will be scraped across the streak plate. With your other hand, place the streak plate flat on a tabletop or laboratory bench. Then, while holding the streak plate flat and firmly in place on the tabletop, place the point of the specimen firmly against the streak plate, and, while maintaining firm pressure, drag the specimen across the plate. Now examine the streak to determine its color and to confirm that it is a powder, instead of grains, splinters, or broken pieces. Don't Be Wimpy!The most common error made by people who are doing the streak test for the first time is to lightly rub the specimen back and forth on the surface of the streak plate. This will not produce a proper streak. Some mineral specimens are so hard that very firm pressure and determination are required to produce a mineral powder. Why Use the Streak Test?The streak test is valuable because many minerals occur in a variety of apparent colors - but all specimens of that mineral share a similar streak color. For example: specimens of hematite can be black, red, brown, or silver in color and occur in a wide variety of habits; however, all specimens of hematite produce a streak with a reddish color. This is a valuable test for hematite. It can be used to differentiate hematite from a large number of other opaque minerals with a high specific gravity and similar color and habit. Fluorite is another mineral where the apparent color can be different from the color of the streak. Specimens of fluorite can be green, yellow, purple, blue, or colorless. However, all specimens of fluorite have a white streak. Specimens of pyrite always have a brassy yellow color; however, all specimens of pyrite produce a black streak. Related: The Acid Test Don't Be Deceived!A number of things can cause a streak test to give unreliable results. To avoid problems, keep the following items in mind.
Contamination Alters Streak: This specimen of bauxite from Demerara, Guyana should have a white streak; however, it has a pinkish streak because it is contaminated by iron-staining. The streak also varies depending upon what part of the specimen is tested. Specimen is approximately 4 inches (10 centimeters) across. Refreshing Your Streak PlateStreak plates that have been used heavily will be covered with streaks and powdered mineral. They can easily be cleaned with water and a piece of wet or dry 220 grit sandpaper. Aluminum oxide or silicon carbide sandpaper works best because the granules are hard enough to smooth the surface of the streak plate. The sanding should be done wet to control dust. The best way to learn about minerals is to study with a collection of small specimens that you can handle, examine, and observe their properties. Inexpensive mineral collections are available in the Geology.com Store. Image copyright iStockphoto / Anna Usova. Other Uses for Streak PlatesIn addition to their use in doing the streak test, streak plates can be used any time you need a small amount of powdered mineral. In doing the acid test to distinguish calcite from dolomite, dolomite might require being powdered to show effervescence with dilute hydrochloric acid. Simply use the streak plate to make some powder of your specimen and add acid to it right on the streak plate. For this test, a black streak plate makes observation easier because powdered dolomite is white. A few minerals will produce an odor upon being broken or powdered. For example, sphalerite releases an odor of sulfur when it is broken or powdered. Scraping it across a streak plate is a convenient way to conduct this test. Hints to other mineral properties can be obtained while doing the streak test. Minerals harder than the streak plate are quickly identified. Experienced testers can estimate the hardness of a specimen by how difficult it is to mark the streak plate. Olivine often reveals its granular nature, augite often reveals its splintery cleavage, and black tourmaline often reveals its brittleness. When you do the streak test, look for more than the color of a specimen's powder. Find Other Topics on Geology.com:
Which mineral leaves a green black powder when rubbed against a porcelain streak plate?Which mineral leaves a green-black powder when rubbed against an unglazed porcelain plate? 4) muscovite mica Page 2 Practice Minerals Test 7.
What mineral has a greenish black powder?Pyrite also has metallic luster and looks like brass. The color is more silvery brass or pale brass, rather than the deep yellow brass of chalcopyrite. The streak of pyrite is greenish black or brownish black.
Which mineral produces a black streak when rubbed on a piece of unglazed porcelain?Pyrite (known as "Fool's Gold") is always brassy yellow when found in crystals, even broken crystals, of any size; but when powdered, produces a black streak.
What is the powder form of a mineral when rubbed on an unglazed porcelain plate?streak, the colour of a mineral in its powdered form. It is usually obtained by rubbing the mineral on a hard, white surface, such as a tile of unglazed porcelain, so as to yield a line, or streak, of fine powder.
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