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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 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

Rock and Mineral Kits

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

Lepidolite

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

Diamond: The Mineral

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

Geodes

Geodes look like ordinary rocks on the outside but can be spectacular inside!

Corundum

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

Fluorescent Minerals

Fluorescent Minerals glow with spectacular colors under ultraviolet light.

Calcite

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

Diamonds from Coal?

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

Quartz

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

Magnesite

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

Fool*s Gold

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

Hardness Picks

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

Don*t Go To Jail

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

Mineral Hardness

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

Mineral Identification

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

What Are Minerals?

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

Garnet

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

Benitoite

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

Topaz

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

U.S. Gemstones

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

Tourmaline

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

Ilmenite

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

Mineraloids

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

Hematite

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

Cinnabar

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

Diopside

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

Tumbled Stones

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

Vanadinite

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

Rutile

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

Rare Earth Elements

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

Variscite

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

Olivine

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

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.

Geology Dictionary

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

Chalcopyrite

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

Rhodochrosite

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

Rock-Forming Minerals

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

Serpentine

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

Zircon

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

Triboluminescence

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

Herkimer Diamonds

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

Mineral Rights

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

Kyanite

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

Streak Test

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

Molybdenite

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

Rhodonite

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

Tucson Mineral Show

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

Uses of Gold

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

Dangerous Mines

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

Rock Tumbling

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

Geology Tools

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

Uses of Silver

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

Denver Mineral Show

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

Colored Glass

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

Gold Panning Kits

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

The Acid Test

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

Limonite

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

Uses of Talc

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

Olivine Rain

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

Crystal Habit

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

Fireworks & Minerals

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

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.

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