Minerals
A mineral is a naturally occurring chemical compound usually of crystalline form and not produced by life processes. A mineral has one specific chemical composition, whereas a rock can be an aggregate of different minerals or mineraloids. The study of minerals is called mineralogy. To meet the definition of “mineral” used by most geologists, a substance must meet five requirements:
Carborundite
Carborundum, also known as silicon carbide (SiC), is a crystalline compound composed of silicon and carbon. It was first discovered in the late 19th...
Silver Sheen Obsidian
Silver Sheen Obsidian is a type of volcanic glass that exhibits a silver or silvery-blue sheen or chatoyancy when light reflects off its surface....
Sard
Sard is a semi-precious gemstone known for its deep, rich red color, which ranges from reddish-brown to nearly black. It's a variety of chalcedony,...
Topaz
Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO4(F, OH)2. Topaz crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces.
Pectolite
Pectolite is a mineral that belongs to the silicate group. Its chemical formula is NaCa2Si3O8(OH), indicating that it consists of sodium (Na), calcium (Ca),...
Pink Star Sapphire
Pink star sapphires are a captivating variety of sapphire known for their stunning pink hues. Sapphires are a type of corundum mineral, with their...
Smoky Quartz
Smoky quartz is a captivating variety of the mineral quartz, celebrated for its enchanting smoky-gray to brown coloration. This gemstone derives its name from...
Antimony
Antimony usually occurs in massive, leafy or granular form. It has a flaky texture that makes it shiny, silvery, bluish white and brittle. It occurs in rare, usually massive, leafy or granular form.
Brucite
Brucite is a mineral that is composed of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2). It belongs to the class of minerals known as hydroxides, which are compounds...
Clinohumite
Clinohumite is a mineral that belongs to the humite group, which is a subgroup of the larger mineral group known as silicates. It is...
Microcline
Used in ceramics and as a mild abrasive, microcline is one of the most common feldspar minerals. It can be colorless, white, cream to pale yellow, salmon pink to red, or bright green to blue-green. Microcline forms short prismatic or tabular crystals that are often of considerable size: single crystals can weigh several tons and reach yards in length. Crystals are often multiply twinned, with two sets of fine lines at right angles to each other. This gives a “plaid” effect that is unique to microcline among the feldspars.
Cobaltocalcite
Cobaltocalcite is a captivating and visually distinctive mineral that belongs to the calcite group of minerals. It is renowned for its remarkable pink to...