Mineral Identifier
Identify a mineral species the way geologists do — by its diagnostic physical properties. Enter colour, hardness, lustre and transparency and Gemdle ranks the possible minerals. The two clues that settle most cases aren't in the filters but are easy to test at home: streak and cleavage (below). Searches 200 minerals.
How to identify a mineral step by step
- Streak — rub it on unglazed porcelain; the powder colour is often more reliable than the mineral's surface colour (hematite looks grey but streaks red-brown).
- Hardness (Mohs) — what scratches what: fingernail (2.5), copper coin (3.5), knife (5.5), quartz (7).
- Lustre — metallic, vitreous, resinous, pearly, dull?
- Cleavage & fracture — does it break along flat planes (mica, calcite) or in curves (quartz)?
- Crystal system — cubic, hexagonal, monoclinic… the symmetry of the crystal form.
Popular minerals to compare against
Frequently asked questions
What are the most useful properties for identifying a mineral?
Streak, hardness and cleavage are the most diagnostic — together they separate most common minerals. Colour is the least reliable on its own because many minerals occur in several colours.
Can you identify a mineral from a photo alone?
Not reliably. Geologists examine a specimen from several angles and test hardness, streak and density. A photo gets you a shortlist; Gemdle's identifier uses the same observable clues to rank possibilities you then confirm in person.