After conducting initial physical property tests on the given mineral, test results indicated that the mineral was most likely spessartine, a pyralspite garnet. The physical property test examined the mineral's cleavage, hardness, crystal habit, magnetism, luster, color, odor, taste, acidity, and streak. Examining the mineral, it was clear that there were distinct good cleavages. Other physical properties that were examined by eye were the luster, crystal habit, and color of the mineral. The test showed that the given mineral had a vitreous or glass-like luster. The mineral also showed a dodecahedral crystal habit and a dark amber color. These results indicated that the mineral was some sort of garnet, but with the limited data, further testing was needed to confirm the hypothesis. After recording observable traits, the mineral was tested for more physical properties such as hardness, magnetism, streak, and acidity. The hardness test was conducted using the Moh's Hardness scale. This resulted in the mineral having a hardness between orthoclase feldspar, hardness 6, and quartz, a hardness of 7. Next, the mineral was tested for the color and showed a white streak on the streak plate. Magnetism was then tested using a magnet, but there was no attraction between the magnet and the mineral. The test results were also negative when the mineral was tested for acid reactivity when HCl was administered onto the surface of the mineral. The final tests were the taste and odor tests, which both resulted in the mineral having no taste and no odor.
After recording all the test results, the physical property data was inputted into the Dyar and Gunter mineral database and results concluded that the mineral was most likely spessartine or grossular. After comparing the physical property data of spessartine and grossular within the database, it was concluded that the mineral was most likely spessartine. According to Dyar and Gunter, spessartine shows a distinct cleavage and has a yellowish-brown color with a vitreous luster. Spessartine tends to have a dodecahedral crystal habit with the Mn and the Al forming the framework the of octahedra/tetrahedra and the SiO4 occupying the tetrahedra. The database also shows that spessartine is not magnetic, doesn't have a distinct taste or odor, and may react with hydrofluoric acid. After comparing the results of the conducted physical property test to the Dyar and Gunter database, the physical property test concluded that the mineral was most likely spessartine.