Article: A mineral is a naturally occurring combination of chemical elements in a certain structure. While a single mineral can appear in different shapes or colors due to geological processes or trace amounts of impurities, generally every example of that mineral will have certain characteristics that can be tested for. Rocks, on the other hand, may be formed from a combination of minerals and don't have a crystal structure. They aren't always easy to tell apart, but if these tests produce different results on one part of an object than on another, the object is probably a rock. You can try identifying rocks as well, or at least identifying which of the three types of rock they belong to. There are thousands of minerals on Earth, but many of them are rare or only found deep underground. Sometimes, conducting two or three tests is all you need to narrow the unidentified substance down to a likely, common mineral listed in the next section. If your mineral's characteristics don't match any of those descriptions, try to find a mineral identification guide for your area. If you've conducted many tests and can't narrow a mineral down between two or more possibilities, search online for photographs of each possible mineral and for specific tips for telling those minerals apart. It's best to include at least one test that involves an action, such as the hardness test or streak test. Tests that only involve looking at and describing the mineral may not be helpful by themselves, since different people describe the same mineral in different ways. The overall shape of each mineral crystal and the pattern of a group of crystals is called a habit. There are many technical terms geologists use to describe this, but a basic description is often enough. For instance, is the mineral bumpy or smooth? Is it a collection of rectangular crystals jumbled into each other, or thin spiky crystals pointed outward? Luster is the way a mineral reflects light, and while it's not a scientific test, it's often useful to include in descriptions. Most minerals have a shine that's either glassy (or vitreous) or metallic. You can also describe a shine as greasy, pearly (a whitish shine), earthy (dull, like unglazed pottery), or with any description that makes sense to you. Use multiple adjectives if you need to. For most people, this is one of the easiest tests to conduct, but it's not always useful. Small traces of other substances in the mineral can cause it to change color, so one mineral may appear in many different colors. However, if the mineral is an unusual color, such as purple, it might help you narrow down the possibilities. When describing minerals, avoid hard-to-define color words such as "salmon" and "puce." Stick with simple terms such as "red," "black," and "green." This is a useful and easy test, as long as you have a piece of white, unglazed porcelain. The back of a kitchen of bathroom tile might work well; see if you can purchase one at a home improvement store. Once you have the porcelain, simply rub the mineral on the tile, and see what color "streak" it leaves behind. Often, this streak is a different color than the large piece of mineral. Glaze is what gives porcelain and other ceramic objects their glassy shine. An unglazed piece of porcelain does not reflect light. Keep in mind that some minerals have no streak, particularly the harder minerals (because they are harder than the streak plate). Geologists often use the Mohs hardness scale, names after its creator, to quickly estimate the hardness of a mineral. If you succeed with the "4" test but not with the "5," the mineral's hardness is between 4 and 5, and you can stop testing. Try to leave a permanent scratch mark using these common materials (or minerals found in mineral hardness test kit), starting with the lowest numbers and working upward if the test succeeds: 1 -- Easily scratched with fingernail, feels greasy and soft (or can be scratched with talc) 2 -- Can be scratched by a fingernail (gypsum) 3 -- Can be cut easily with a knife or a nail, scratched by a penny (calcite) 4 -- Can be scratched easily by a knife (fluorite) 5 -- Can be scratched by a knife with difficulty, scratched by a piece of glass (apatite) 6 -- Can be scratched by a steel file, scratches a piece of glass with difficulty (orthoclase) 7 -- Scratches a steel file, easily scratches a piece of glass (quartz) 8 -- Scratches quartz (topaz) 9 -- Scratches almost anything, cuts glass (corundum) 10 -- Scratches or cuts almost anything (diamond) Since each specific mineral has a certain structure to it, it should break in a certain way. If the break results in one ore more flat surfaces, it demonstrates cleavage. If there are no flat surfaces, just curves or irregular bumps, the broken mineral has fracture. Cleavage can be described in more detail by the number of flat surfaces that a break creates (usually between one and four), and whether the surface is perfect (smooth) or imperfect (rough). Fracture comes in several types. Describe it as splintered (or fibrous), sharp and jagged (hackly), bowl-shaped (conchoidal), or none of the above (uneven). There are many other tests geologists conduct to identify a mineral. However, many of these are almost never useful for common minerals, or they may involve specialized equipment or dangerous materials. Here are brief descriptions of some tests you might be interested in conducting: If your mineral sticks to a magnet, it is most likely magnetite, the only common strongly magnetic mineral. If the attraction is weak, or descriptions of magnetite don't match your mineral, it may be pyrrhotite, franklinite, or ilmenite instead. Some minerals melt easily in a candle or lighter flame, while others won't melt even in a blowtorch flame. Minerals that melt easily have a higher "fusibility" than minerals that are more difficult to melt. Some minerals have a specific taste. For example, halite (rock salt) tastes like salt. When tasting a rock, don't directly lick the rock: wet your finger, place your finger on the specimen, then lick your finger. If your mineral has a notable smell, try to describe it and search online for a mineral with that smell. Strong smelling minerals are not common, although the bright yellow mineral sulfur can react to produce the smell found in rotten eggs.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Tell minerals and rocks apart. Understand mineral identification. Examine the shape and surface features of the mineral. Look at your mineral's shine, or luster. Take a look at the mineral's color. Conduct a streak test. Test the material's hardness. Break the mineral and see how it comes apart. Conduct other tests if the mineral is still unidentified.
Article: Whey protein is a popular choice because it is easy to digest and boosts energy. Take it within an hour of a weight training workout to help repair and grow your muscles. Whey protein powder is widely available in health and fitness stores, either plain or in assorted flavors. Mix whey powder with water, milk, or other beverages for a quick post-workout protein boost. While many protein powders contain milk ingredients, there are vegan alternatives that offer many of the same benefits. Soy protein powder is easy to digest, smooth in texture, and can help to lower cholesterol. Pea protein powder is also vegan-friendly and highly digestible. Hemp protein powder is another vegan option if you are not aiming to lose weight, as it is high in calories and fat. Egg protein is low in fat and carbs, making it a perfect option if you are weight-conscious. Take this powder as part of a shake or snack before working out to boost your energy for exercise. You can also take it after a workout to recharge. Casein powder is highly effective because it lasts longer in the gastrointestinal tract, providing a slow and steady release of amino acids. This means that your muscles will have more time to repair and grow before your next workout. Consume this protein before you go to bed so it can work in your body throughout the night.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Opt for a whey powder if you want to build muscle mass. Go for a plant-based protein powder if you want a vegan option. Choose egg protein powder if you want to build lean muscle. Buy casein powder to build muscle fast.