Home » Minerals

What Are Minerals?

Minerals are materials that meet five requirements. They are: 1) naturally occurring, 2) inorganic, 3) solids, 4) with a definite chemical composition, and, 5) an ordered internal structure.

Mineral Menu
Andalusite Anhydrite Apatite Arsenopyrite Augite Azurite Barite Bauxite Benitoite Beryl Biotite Bornite Calcite Cassiterite Chalcopyrite Chlorite Chromite Chrysoberyl Cinnabar Clinozoisite Copper Cordierite Corundum Diamond Diopside Dolomite Epidote Euclase Feldspar Fluorite Fuchsite Galena Garnet Gaspeite Gold Graphite Gypsum Halite Hematite Hornblende Ilmenite Jadeite	Kyanite Lepidolite Limonite Magnesite Magnetite Malachite Marcasite Molybdenite Monazite Muscovite Nephrite Olivine Orpiment Orthoclase Phlogopite Plagioclase Pyrite Quartz Realgar Rhodochrosite Rhodonite Rutile Scapolite Serpentine Silver Sodalite Sphalerite Spinel Spodumene Staurolite Sulfur Talc Titanite Topaz Tourmaline Turquoise Uraninite Vanadinite Variscite Zircon Zoisite

Diamond: The Mineral

Diamond is a mineral with unique properties and many gem and industrial uses!

Fluorescent Minerals

Fluorescent Minerals glow with spectacular colors under ultraviolet light.

Corundum

Corundum is the third hardest mineral. It is also the mineral of ruby and sapphire.

Calcite

Calcite is a carbonate mineral with industrial, agricultural, medical and many other uses.

Garnet

Garnet is best known as a red gemstone. It occurs in any color and has many industrial uses.

Fool*s Gold

Fool*s Gold is a name used for pyrite when its brassy color fools people looking for gold.

Mineral Hardness

Mohs Hardness Scale is a set of reference minerals used for classroom hardness testing.

Topaz

Topaz is a mineral best known as a durable gemstone and its use in Mohs Hardness Scale.

Rock and Mineral Kits

Rock and Mineral Kits The most effective way to learn about rocks and minerals.

Diopside

Diopside - Gem material, ornamental stone, diamond indicator, industrial mineral.

Diamonds from Coal?

Diamonds Do Not Form From Coal That is one of the biggest misconceptions in science.

Benitoite

Benitoite - discovery of the State Gem of California - USGS report from 1911.

Lepidolite

Lepidolite is a pink to purple mica used as an ore of lithium and as a gem material.

Quartz

Quartz is the most abundant mineral in the crust. It has many useful properties.

Olivine

Olivine - Abundant in Earth*s mantle. A constituent of meteorites. The gem peridot.

Streak Test

The Streak Test is a method to determine the color of a mineral in powdered form.

Don*t Go To Jail

Mineral collectors must know the rules for removing specimens from public and private property.

Vanadinite

Vanadinite is an important ore of vanadium and a minor source of lead.

Rhodochrosite

Rhodochrosite - a manganese mineral used as an ore, a pink gem and an ornamental stone.

What Are Minerals?

Minerals are the building blocks of our society. We use items made with them every day.

U.S. Gemstones

United States Gemstones Small mines in the U.S. produce a diversity of gemstones.

Mineral Identification

Mineral Identification Chart Printable mineral ID chart by Art Crossman in MS Excel format.

Variscite

Variscite is a yellowish green to bluish green mineral. It is similar to turquoise and cut as a gem.

Serpentine

Serpentine - metamorphic rocks used in construction, architecture and lapidary work.

Hematite

Hematite - the most important source of iron ore and mineral pigment since prehistory.

Herkimer Diamonds

Herkimer Diamonds Doubly-terminated quartz crystals used as specimens and gems.

The Acid Test

The Acid Test Geologists use dilute hydrochloric acid to identify carbonate minerals.

Magnesite

Magnesite is a carbonate mineral used for chemicals, fire bricks, magnesium metal and more.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline - the most colorful mineral and natural gem material on Earth.

Chalcopyrite

Chalcopyrite - The most important ore of copper for over five thousand years.

Azurite

Azurite - Used as an ore of copper, a pigment, ornamental stone and gem material.

Spodumene

Spodumene is a pegmatite mineral, an ore of lithium and sometimes a gemstone.

Is Water a Mineral?

Are Water and Ice Minerals? Comparing their properties with the definition of a mineral.

Kyanite

Kyanite is a metamorphic mineral used to make porcelain, abrasive products and gems.

Rutile

Rutile - an ore of titanium; a source of titanium oxide; causes stars and eyes in gems.

Ilmenite

Ilmenite - The primary ore of titanium and source of most titanium dioxide.

Rhodonite

Rhodonite - a manganese silicate used as a minor ore of manganese and as a gemstone.

Zircon

Zircon is the primary ore of zirconium and a gemstone that is available in many colors.

Geology Dictionary

Geology Dictionary - contains thousands of geological terms with their definitions.

Rock-Forming Minerals

Rock-Forming Minerals - most of Earth*s crust is made-up of a small number of minerals.

Mineraloids

Mineraloids are amorphous naturally-occurring inorganic solids that lack crystallinity.

Uses of Gold

Gold has unique properties that make it one of the most useful minerals.

Rock Tumbling

Rock Tumblers - All about rock tumblers and rock tumbling. Read before you buy a tumbler.

Tucson Mineral Show

Tucson Gem & Mineral Show Photos from the largest gem and mineral show.

Rare Earth Elements

Rare Earth Elements are used in cell phones, DVDs, batteries, magnets & many other products.

Molybdenite

Molybdenite is the primary ore of molybdenum which is used in superalloys and as a lubricant.

Tumbled Stones

Tumbled Stones are rocks that have been rounded, smoothed and polished in a rock tumbler.

Uses of Talc

Talc is a soft mineral used in cosmetics, paper, paint, ceramics and many other products.

Mineral Rights

Mineral Rights - Who owns the minerals under your land? Who wants to buy them?

Fireworks & Minerals

The Science of Fireworks Learn how the colors and shapes are created.

Cinnabar

Cinnabar - the only important ore of mercury. Used in pigments until its toxicity was realized.

Hardness Picks

Hardness Picks - Test for hardness with precise and easy-to-use hardness picks.

Uses of Silver

Uses of Silver Most people think of jewelry and coins, but silver\'s primary use is industrial.

Crystal Habit

Crystal Habit is the external shape displayed by a crystal or an aggregate of crystals.

Colored Glass

Minerals in Colored Glass - Minerals are what produce the color in colored glass.

Olivine Rain

Olivine Rain Spitzer Telescope discovered a rain of olivine crystals on protostar HOPS-68.

Limonite

Limonite - an amorphous iron oxide. An ore of iron and a pigment since prehistory.

Dangerous Mines

Abandoned Mine Accidents kill several people every year. Education can prevent deaths.

Triboluminescence

Triboluminescence is flash produced when a mineral is rubbed, scratched or broken.

Denver Mineral Show

Denver Gem and Mineral Show - Photos and comments about this incredible show.

Hand Lens

Hand Lens A 10-power folding magnifier in a metal case. A frequently used lab and field tool.

Snowflakes

How Do Snowflakes Form? They start as tiny crystals. Some grow on the way down.

Geology Tools

Geology Tools - Hammers, field bags, hand lenses, maps, hardness picks, gold pans.

Gold Panning Kits

Gold Pans and Panning Kits - classifiers, snuffer bottles. Learn how to pan for gold!

What Are Minerals?

Minerals are materials that meet five requirements. They are: 1) naturally occurring, 2) inorganic, 3) solids, 4) with a definite chemical composition, and, 5) an ordered internal structure.

Mineral Menu