This means that if emersed in water, a perfectly clear colorless crystal of cryolite or powdered cryolite will essentially disappear. Even a specimen of cloudy cryolite will become more transparent and its edges will be less distinct, an effect similar to ice in water except that the ice floats. Color is clear or white to yellowish, but can also be black or purple. Luster is vitreous. Transparency crystals are transparent to translucent.
Cleavage is absent, but three parting directions produce what looks like a psuedo-cubic cleavage.
Fracture is uneven. Streak is white. As a consequence, clear cryolite crystals or powdered cryolite will nearly disappear in water. Also there is no salty taste which is helpful in distinguishing cryolite from the mineral halite . Associated Minerals include siderite , quartz , topaz , fluorite , chalcopyrite , galena , cassiterite , molybdenite , columbite and wolframite .