RESPONSE:

For a material to be classified as a mineral, there are four requirements that it must have. The requirements state that a substance must be a naturally occurring solid, formed by inorganic processes, with a characteristic crystal structure, and a specific chemical composition. Each of these requirements must be present in order to be classified as a mineral. The best ways to differentiate between minerals is to study the luster, crystal form and habit, hardness, cleavage, density, and color and streak. Each characteristic is essential for properly identifying minerals. Luster describes how a mineral looks in the light, such as if it is shiny or dull. The crystal form and habit of a mineral are the descriptions and shapes which also show what the mineral will form in the future....