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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.
Diamonds from Coal?
![How Do Diamonds Form?](https://geology.com/diamond/images/diamond.jpg)
Diamonds Do Not Form From Coal That is one of the biggest misconceptions in science.
Tumbled Stones
![Tumbled Stones](https://geology.com/a/polished-stones.jpg)
Tumbled Stones are rocks that have been rounded, smoothed and polished in a rock tumbler.
Rhodochrosite
![Rhodochrosite](https://geology.com/gemstones/gems/rhodochrosite.jpg)
Rhodochrosite - a manganese mineral used as an ore, a pink gem and an ornamental stone.
Grape Agate
![Grape Agate](https://geology.com/a/grape-agate.jpg)
Grape Agate is a popular mineral specimen with the color and the shape of a bunch of grapes.
Copper
![Copper](https://geology.com/a/copper.jpg)
Copper is a metal used in coins, electronics, pipes, wiring, motors, alloys and many other products.
Fool*s Gold
![Fool*s Gold](https://geology.com/a/fools-gold.jpg)
Fool*s Gold is a name used for pyrite when its brassy color fools people looking for gold.
What Are Minerals?
![What Are Minerals?](https://geology.com/a/amethyst.jpg)
Minerals are the building blocks of our society. We use items made with them every day.
Hemimorphite
![Hemimorphite](https://geology.com/gemstones/gems/hemimorphite.jpg)
Hemimorphite is an ore of zinc that can often be cut into gems with spectacular blue color.
Mineral Hardness
![Mohs Hardness Test](https://geology.com/c2/mohs-hardness-180.jpg)
Mohs Hardness Scale is a set of reference minerals used for classroom hardness testing.
Cinnabar
![cinnabar](https://geology.com/a/cinnabar.jpg)
Cinnabar - the only important ore of mercury. Used in pigments until its toxicity was realized.
Variscite
![Variscite](https://geology.com/gemstones/gems/variscite.jpg)
Variscite is a yellowish green to bluish green mineral. It is similar to turquoise and cut as a gem.
Magnesite
![magnesite](https://geology.com/a/magnesite.jpg)
Magnesite is a carbonate mineral used for chemicals, fire bricks, magnesium metal and more.
Is Water a Mineral?
![Is Water a Mineral?](https://geology.com/c2/water-mineral-180.jpg)
Are Water and Ice Minerals? Comparing their properties with the definition of a mineral.
Molybdenite
![Molybdenite](https://geology.com/a/molybdenite.jpg)
Molybdenite is the primary ore of molybdenum which is used in superalloys and as a lubricant.
Rare Earth Elements
![Rare Earth Elements](https://geology.com/a/rare-earth-elements.jpg)
Rare Earth Elements are used in cell phones, DVDs, batteries, magnets & many other products.
Rock-Forming Minerals
![Rock-Forming Minerals](https://geology.com/a/rock-forming-minerals.gif)
Rock-Forming Minerals - most of Earth*s crust is made-up of a small number of minerals.
Rock and Mineral Kits
![Rock and Mineral Kits](https://geology.com/a/rock-mineral-kits.jpg)
Rock and Mineral Kits The most effective way to learn about rocks and minerals.
Hand Lens
![Hand Lens](https://geology.com/a/hand-lens.jpg)
Hand Lens A 10-power folding magnifier in a metal case. A frequently used lab and field tool.
Crystal Habit
![Crystal Habit](https://geology.com/a/crystal-habit.jpg)
Crystal Habit is the external shape displayed by a crystal or an aggregate of crystals.
Geology Dictionary
![Geology Dictionary](https://geology.com/a/geology-dictionary.gif)
Geology Dictionary - contains thousands of geological terms with their definitions.
Gold Panning Kits
![Gold Pans](https://geology.com/a/gold-panning-kits.jpg)
Gold Pans and Panning Kits - classifiers, snuffer bottles. Learn how to pan for gold!
Uses of Silver
![Uses of silver](https://geology.com/c2/uses-of-silver-180.jpg)
Uses of Silver Most people think of jewelry and coins, but silver\'s primary use is industrial.
Dangerous Mines
![Abandoned Mine Accidents](https://geology.com/c2/abandoned-mines-180.jpg)
Abandoned Mine Accidents kill several people every year. Education can prevent deaths.
Olivine Rain
![Olivine Rain](https://geology.com/c2/olivine-rain-180.jpg)
Olivine Rain Spitzer Telescope discovered a rain of olivine crystals on protostar HOPS-68.
Geology Tools
![Geology Tools](https://geology.com/a/tools.jpg)
Geology Tools - Rock hammers, field bags, hand lenses, maps, hardness picks, gold pans.
Don*t Go To Jail
![Don't Go To Jail](https://geology.com/a/legal-7.jpg)
Mineral collectors must know the rules for removing specimens from public and private property.
Rock Tumbling
![rock tumblers](https://geology.com/a/rock-tumbling.jpg)
Rock Tumblers - All about rock tumblers and rock tumbling. Read before you buy a tumbler.
Pyroxene Minerals
![Pyroxene Minerals](https://geology.com/a/pyroxene.gif)
Pyroxenes are a group of chain silicate minerals found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Uses of Talc
![Uses of Talc](https://geology.com/a/uses-of-talc.jpg)
Talc is a soft mineral used in cosmetics, paper, paint, ceramics and many other products.