Is color a useful property when trying to identify mineral?

While color can sometimes be a helpful clue in mineral identification, it is generally not a reliable property on its own. This is because many different minerals can have similar colors, and the same mineral can have different colors depending on impurities or other factors. For example, both quartz and calcite can be found in a wide range of colors, and the color of a mineral can be affected by the presence of other elements or minerals, such as iron oxide or copper carbonate. Additionally, the same mineral can appear in different colors under different lighting conditions.

Therefore, it is important to consider other properties of a mineral in addition to its color, such as its crystal form, hardness, luster, and streak, in order to accurately identify it.