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Contents of 2.6 What determines the physical properties of minerals?

2.6 What determines the <br />physical properties of minerals?

• The physical properties of minerals depend on composition and structure.
• Small variations in composition can cause different coloring in a mineral.
• The type of bond and distance between bonded atoms determine hardness and cleavage.
• Bond strength: covalent > ionic > van der Waals
• For covalent: closer = stronger
• For ionic: strength is proportional to charge
• Specific gravity of minerals is greater for larger or more closely packed atoms.