I will have a practical mineral test next week -- a pain! Please consider the appearance and luster of each mienral only because I can't perform any hardness, streak test in the practical test next week! Just by "looking" at it!

Please click the following address for the image of the minerals!
http://www.geocities.com/asdfasdf23135/DSC00586.JPG
1) The numbers 2-gypsum, 4-fluorite, 7-quartz, 14-glass look so alike to me, is there any difference in appearance in these four things that can allow us to distinguish from one another?

2) The numbers 3-calcite, 6-orthoclase feldspar, 15-alabaster look exactly the same to me, is there any difference in appearance in these three things that can allow us to distinguish from one another?

Please click the following image for the second set of minerals!
http://www.geocities.com/asdfasdf23135/DSC00595.JPG
3) Number 15 is called a "quartz crystal", how is it different from a "quartz mineral"?

Who has good mineral-identifying skills? I find it hard to differentiate one mineral from another! I really really need your help! Thank you! :)

Oh, if it's just looking, just look at the most common crystal structures for minerals.

Color matters less, but sometimes can be diagnostic, i.e. sulfur, pyrite.

if your aloud to handle them at all, do the hardness compared to each other...thats the easiest way.

if you can't do that memorize the crystal structure as the other guy said....the ones that you mention have a certian number of plains and fracture in a certian way.