Final answer:
Macroscopic properties used to identify minerals include color, texture, mineral content, and potential parent rock origins, which can be assessed with simple tools like a hand lens and guidance from mineral identification charts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main macroscopic properties used to identify mineral specimens include color, texture, probable mineral content, probable parent rock, and an indication of the grade of metamorphism if applicable. Color is affected by small impurities and is not always reliable, but can still provide a clue about the mineral. For texture in rocks, one looks for foliation (layering) in metamorphic rocks or whether the rock is clastic (made of fragments, like sandstone) or crystalline/chemical in origin. Grain size and sorting are considered for clastic rocks to infer the energy of the depositional environment, such as low-energy river deltas or high-energy beaches.Geologists often use a hand lens to examine mineral samples, seeking signs of cleavage, the tendency of a mineral to break along flat planes. A mineral's composition can sometimes be determined by visible crystalline structure, especially if the crystals are large enough (over 1 millimeter). For metamorphic rocks, one must identify the probable parent rock and interpret the metamorphic grade, which refers to the temperature and pressure conditions under which the rock formed.In a classroom setting, students can use these properties along with mineral identification flow charts like those found in Figures 2.8 and 2.9, which guide the identification process through a series of questions based on observable characteristics. Mineral identification exercises, such as Exercise 2.1 in the material, encourage hands-on learning and comparison with materials like rock and mineral guides.