Minerals

Peanut Wood Jasper is a unique and visually striking variety of jasper, which is a type of chalcedony, a microcrystalline form of quartz. What...

Zincite is a mineral composed primarily of zinc oxide (ZnO), often with trace amounts of manganese and other elements. It typically occurs in bright...

Indicolite is a term primarily used in the world of gemology to refer to a specific variety of the mineral tourmaline. Tourmaline is a...

Illite is a type of clay mineral that belongs to the group of non-expanding or non-swelling phyllosilicate minerals. It is a common constituent of...

Tiger's Eye is a mineral gemstone that belongs to the quartz family. It is composed primarily of silicon dioxide (SiO2), the same chemical composition...

Astrophyllite is a rare and unique mineral that belongs to the group of complex silicate minerals. Its name is derived from the Greek words...

A light mica, lepidolite is Earth’s most common lithium-bearing mineral. Its name is derived from two Greek words: lepidos, which means “scale,” and lithos, which means “stone.” Although typically pale lilac, specimens can also be colorless, violet, pale yellow, or gray. Lepidolite crystals may appear pseudohexagonal. The mineral is also found as botryoidal or kidneylike masses and fine- to coarse-grained, interlocking plates. Its perfect cleavage yields thin, flexible sheets. Lepidolite occurs in granitic pegmatites, where it is associated with other lithium minerals, such as beryl and topaz. The mineral is economically important as a major source of lithium, which is used to make glass and enamels. It is also a major source of the rare alkali metals rubidium and cesium.

Rutile is oxide group mineral with formula: titanium dioxide (TiO2). It often appears as pale golden, needlelike crystals inside quartz. When not enclosed in quartz, it is usually yellowish or reddish brown, dark brown, or black.

Amazonite is a strikingly beautiful gemstone that is known for its captivating blue-green color. It belongs to the feldspar mineral group and is characterized...

Apatite is a very common mineral, but transparent gemstone-quality apatite is extremely rare. Despite the fact that apatite is the defining mineral for 5 on Mohs scale of hardness, the gemstone remains virtually unknown to most, and is seldom found in jewelry stores.

Spodumene is a pyroxene member of inosilicate mineral with chemical formula is LiAl(SiO3)2, lithium aluminium. It can also be pink, lilac, or green. Crystals are prismatic, flattened, and typically striated along their length. Gem varieties of the mineral usually exhibit strong pleochroism.

Tugtupite is a captivating and relatively rare mineral known for its striking pink to reddish-pink coloration. This eye-catching mineral belongs to the group of...