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Calcimator

Mineral Identification Score

Identify likely minerals based on hardness, luster, cleavage, and color group using a scoring system against common mineral profiles.

Inputs

Results

Best Match

Quartz

Match Score

100%

2nd MatchOlivine
2nd Score89%
3rd MatchCorundum
3rd Score87%
LusterVitreous
CleavageNone
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Test the mineral's Mohs Hardness using scratch tests (fingernail = 2.5, penny = 3.5, knife = 5.5, glass = 5.5).
  2. Select the Luster Type: metallic, vitreous (glassy), or earthy (dull).
  3. Select the Cleavage Quality: none/fracture, poor, good, or perfect.
  4. Select the Color Group: light, dark, colorless/transparent, or metallic.
  5. Review the Best Match identification and Top Candidates list for field identification guidance.

What each input means

Mohs Hardness
Mohs hardness scale: 1 (talc) to 10 (diamond). Test with fingernail (2.5), penny (3.5), glass (5.5), steel file (6.5).
Luster Type
How the mineral reflects light. Metallic looks like metal; vitreous looks like glass; earthy is dull.
Cleavage Quality
How cleanly the mineral breaks along flat planes. Perfect cleavage = smooth flat surfaces.
Color Group
General color category of the mineral specimen.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Mohs Hardness = 7, Luster Type = 2, Cleavage Quality = 1, Color Group = 3 = 4 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Best Match
    Best Match = top1.name
    Quartz = Quartz
  3. Calculate Match Score
    Match Score = top1.score
    100 = 100
  4. Calculate 2nd Match
    2nd Match = top2.name
    Olivine = Olivine
  5. Calculate 2nd Score
    2nd Score = top2.score
    89 = 89

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