Final answer:
The outward appearance of a mineral is linked to its internal atomic arrangement and crystal structure, impacting characteristics like color, luster, and streak, which are used in mineral identification.
Step-by-step explanation:
The outward appearance of a mineral is often determined by its internal atomic arrangement and crystal structure. Minerals such as quartz can come in an array of colors, but these colors are typically due to small impurities and element substitutions within the atomic structure. For instance, polymorphs are minerals that have the same chemical composition but display different internal atomic arrangements, causing them to have different crystalline structures. These structures are the external manifestations of the orderly internal arrangement of atoms. Minerals are not only the building blocks of rocks but hold crucial importance due to their myriad of uses in industries and technology. Characteristics such as color, luster, and streak help in identifying minerals, although these properties can sometimes be influenced by impurities and may not always be diagnostic.