Silicates Minerals

Sepiolite, also known as meerschaum, is a clay mineral that belongs to the group of phyllosilicates. It is named after the Greek word "sepion,"...

Iolite, also known as cordierite, is a mineral that belongs to the silicate mineral group. Its name is derived from the Greek word "ios,"...

The most common pyroxene, augite is named after the Greek word augites, which means “brightness”—a reference to its occasional shiny appearance. Most augite has a dull, dark green, brown, or black finish. Augite occurs chiefly as short, thick, prismatic crystals with a square or octagonal cross section and sometimes as large, cleavable masses. It occurs in a solid-solution series in which diopside and hedenbergite are the end-members. Augite is common in silica-poor rocks and various other dark-colored igneous rocks, as well as igneous rocks of intermediate silica content. It also occurs in some metamorphic rocks formed at high temperatures (1,065°F/575°C or above). Augite is a common constituent of lunar basalts and some meteorites. Notable crystal localities are in Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Russia, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and USA. Because it is difficult to distinguish between augite, diopside, and hedenbergite in hand specimens, all pyroxenes are often identified as augite.

Bumble Bee Jasper, also known as Orpiment or Eclipse Jasper, is a unique and vibrant form of volcanic rock that is primarily composed of...

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),...

Phlogopite is a member of mica group family of phyllosilicates mineral. Color is a yellow, greenish, or reddish-brown. It is the magnesium endmember of the biotite stable answer series, with the chemical formulation KMg3AlSi3O10 (F, OH) 2.

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral known for its softness, smoothness, and ability to absorb moisture. It is a silicate mineral that is composed...

Zoisite is a mineral belonging to the epidote group, which is a group of silicate minerals. It was first discovered in the 19th century...

Thulite is a variety of the mineral zoisite known for its striking pink color. The pink hue is primarily due to manganese ions replacing...

Black Tourmaline, scientifically known as Schorl, is a mineral that forms through a variety of geological processes. It can originate from magmatic activity, crystallizing...

Arfvedsonite is a relatively rare mineral that belongs to the amphibole group, a subgroup of silicate minerals. Arfvedsonite is a complex inosilicate mineral with...

Muscovite is the most common mineral of the mica own family. It is an essential rock-forming mineral present in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Like other micas it with no trouble cleaves into skinny transparent sheets.