Ageologist working in a national park finds a mineral. he is carrying a lit that contains a penny, a hand lens, a piece of tile, a geologic hammer, and a jackknife. describe how the geologist can use these items to determine some of the mineral's characteristics.

The geologist can use the following items in the kit to determine the characteristics of the mineral.

1) Penny - used to compare the hardness of the mineral. Approximate hardness of a copper penny is 3.

2) hand lens - can also be used to compare the hardness of the mineral. Its glass can be used as a scratch plate. It can also be used to check for the luster of the mineral.

3) tile - rubbing the mineral on the unglazed part of the tile will provide a powdered streak of the mineral which is used to identify the mineral and its color.

4) geological hammer - used to break the mineral to check whether it has cleavage or not and to identify its fractures.

5) jackknife - used to identify the tenacity of the mineral. The minerals' tenacity can be brittle, malleable, sectile, flexible, or elastic.