Muscovite
A colorless to a very brown color. Peels easily known as white mica.
Found in granite rock.
Muscovite is used as an insulator.
Found in granite rock.
Muscovite is used as an insulator.
Biotite Mica
Color is dark brown to white. Known as black mica. Peels very thin, flexible, elastic sheets.
Found in igneous rocks.
Biotite Mica is used in decorative concrete, plaster and other construction materials.
Found in igneous rocks.
Biotite Mica is used in decorative concrete, plaster and other construction materials.
Sulfur
Distinctive yellow color. Transparent or translucent. Has no cleavage and will break with a conchoidal fracture(shell like). Very brittle.
Found in sedimentary environments, also in igneous basalt rocks of recent volcanic activity.
Used in the production of sulfuric acid, explosives, tire making, hockey pucks, and insecticides.
Found in sedimentary environments, also in igneous basalt rocks of recent volcanic activity.
Used in the production of sulfuric acid, explosives, tire making, hockey pucks, and insecticides.
Pyrite
Known as "fools gold". Much harder than gold. It is brittle. Can be crushed to a powder. Produces greenish black streak.
Found in any of the three rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Used for jewelry, to manufacture copperas.
Found in any of the three rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Used for jewelry, to manufacture copperas.
Magnetite
Dark brown to black mineral. Can be picked up by a magnet. It produces a black streak.
Found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
Used in make magnets, paints, cosmetics.
Found in igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
Used in make magnets, paints, cosmetics.
Hematite
Ranges in color from powdery red to black to a metallic black. Can resemble magnetite, but is not a magnet. Produces brownish red streak. Powdered hematite is used as rouge.
Found in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
Used in polishing agents, and paint pigments.
Found in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
Used in polishing agents, and paint pigments.
Galena
A metallic luster and is gray in color. Has a high density. Much heavier than other minerals of the same size. It is a lead ore. It has three directions of cleavage, it has right angles to each other. It breaks into shiny metallic-looking cubes.
Found in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks
Used in lead paint, batteries, bullets, and gasoline.
Found in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks
Used in lead paint, batteries, bullets, and gasoline.
Olivine
Transparent to translucent with a distinct yellow green color. Often occurs as a cluster in a volcanic rock-basalt. Does not have cleavage and breaks with a conchoidal fracture. If clear and solid, it can be cut and polished into the gemstone Olivine.
Found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Used for gemstones, and in industry for products that need to take a lot of heat. Transparent ones are used for jewelry.
Found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Used for gemstones, and in industry for products that need to take a lot of heat. Transparent ones are used for jewelry.
Azurite
Bright blue mineral. Associated with copper ore. It may occur with green malachite. It is relatively soft at 3.5 Mohs scale of hardness.
Found in carbonate rocks
Used for jewelry, making blue pigments for dyes in paints and fabric.
Found in carbonate rocks
Used for jewelry, making blue pigments for dyes in paints and fabric.
Malachite
Rich green to dark green copper mineral. Can occur on its own or with azurite. Relatively soft at 3.5 on Mohs scale of hardness.
Found in quartz, copper, and calcite.
Used for jewelry, inlays in furniture.
Found in quartz, copper, and calcite.
Used for jewelry, inlays in furniture.
Talc
The softest mineral. Easily scratched. May have a pearly luster. May have a greasy or oily feel to it. Commonly white, but can also be a pale green or pale pink. Talc and Gypsum can be confused because they look alike.
Found in metamorphic rocks and igneous rocks.
Used for paper making, plastic, and powders.
Found in metamorphic rocks and igneous rocks.
Used for paper making, plastic, and powders.
Gypsum
Soft-light colored mineral. Color is transparent, white, colorless, pale pink or pale brown. If crystallized, it displays one direction of excellent cleavage, but the cleavage fragmenta are much thicker than those of mica and the fragments are not elastic. It lacks the greasy feel of talc.
Found in sedimentary rocks.
Used for plaster of paris and cement.
Found in sedimentary rocks.
Used for plaster of paris and cement.
Milky Quartz
White quartz. the color comes from carbon dioxide gas trapped within the quartz structure. Has a hardness of 7 on Mohs hardness scale. Easily scratches glass. Shiny and translucent. No cleavage and breaks with a fracture that ranges from conchoidal to irregular.
Found in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
Used for production of optical instruments, and electrical devices. Used in making sand paper and grinding tools.
Found in igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.
Used for production of optical instruments, and electrical devices. Used in making sand paper and grinding tools.
Rose Quartz
Translucent quartz with a pink color. No cleavage. Breaks conchoidal fracture, has shiny surface. Can be used as a gemstone.
Found in course grain rock usually granite.
Used for gemstones and ornamental stones.
Found in course grain rock usually granite.
Used for gemstones and ornamental stones.
Amethyst
Purple Quartz. Can occur well formed or deformed. Good quality can be used as a gemstone. The luster is shiny.
Found in granite rocks and agate geodes.
Used in jewelry, and in medicines.
Found in granite rocks and agate geodes.
Used in jewelry, and in medicines.
Agate
A cryptocrystalline variety of quartz. Fibers are so small that they can barely be seen with a regular microscope. Forms as a series of colored bands and rough agate has a dull to waxy texture. Polishes to a high gloss and is a semi-precious gemstone.
Found in metamorphic rocks.
Used for jewelry, craft projects, hard stone carving.
Found in metamorphic rocks.
Used for jewelry, craft projects, hard stone carving.
Orthoclase Feldspar
Common silicate mineral. Responsible for the pink to red colors found in the igneous rock, granite. Common color is salmon, but can be found as a white or pale blueish-green. Displays two directions of cleavage oriented at right angles to each other. Hardness of 6 on Mohs hardness scale. Can be scratched by a piece of quartz.
Found in igneous rocks.
Used for ceramics, glass, enamel, soap, false teeth and silverware.
Found in igneous rocks.
Used for ceramics, glass, enamel, soap, false teeth and silverware.
Calcite
Seen in a large variety of colors and forms. Most common are pointy pyramids that resemble a dog's canine tooth. Three directions of cleavage. Transparent to translucent. Colorless, white, cream, pale yellow, yellow-brown, brown, and even red due to impurities. Easiest way to distinguish calcite is with an acid test.
Found in sedimentary rock
Used in medicines, soil conditioner, roadbed material, and building stone.
Found in sedimentary rock
Used in medicines, soil conditioner, roadbed material, and building stone.
Fluorite
Easy to mistake it with calcite. Fluorite has four directions of cleavage vs. three with calcite. Fluorite is harder (4 on Mohs scale). Colors are: purple, green, yellow, pink, brown, or colorless. May show two or more colors at the same time. Usually cubes or octahedrons. Does not fizz in contact with acid.
Found in sedimentary rocks, and imetamorphic rocks.
Used for fluorescent lights, opal enamel, cooking utensils, and opal glass.
Found in sedimentary rocks, and imetamorphic rocks.
Used for fluorescent lights, opal enamel, cooking utensils, and opal glass.
Graphite
Very soft, dark gray mineral with a semi-metallic luster. It has a greasy feel and you can write on a piece of paper with it.
Found in metamorphic rock
Used for lead pencils, to strengthen steel and early on for ceramic paint.
Found in metamorphic rock
Used for lead pencils, to strengthen steel and early on for ceramic paint.