M i n e r a l s
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SilicateActinolite
Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 Other names/forms: Tremolite |
Most distinguishing features: Habit and colour are best indicators. |
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SulfateAlabaster
CaSO4 - 2H2O Other names/forms: Gypsum |
Most distinguishing features: Identified by hardness and good cleavage. Industrial/economical uses: Modern use is in gypsum wallboard used in construction. Used as an ornamental stone and for sculpture due to its softness. |
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SilicateAntigorite
Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 Other names/forms: Serpentine |
Most distinguishing features: Lustre, colour and habit are indicative. |
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PhosphateApatite
Ca5(PO4)3(OH,F,Cl) |
Most distinguishing features: Colour, crystal habit and hardness are good indicators. Industrial/economical uses: Source of phosphate used in fertilizers and other industrial applications. Fluorine is also extractable from apatite. |
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CarbonateAragonite
CaCO3 |
Most distinguishing features: Stalactitic habit, hardness (greater than that of calcite) and colour. Industrial/economical uses: Same as calcite, however abundance is much much less than that of calcite, thus having little economic value. |
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SulfideArsenopyrite
FeAsS |
Most distinguishing features: Gives off a garlic odour when crushed or heated. Colour is indicative. Industrial/economical uses: A possible source of arsenic, however better secondary sources from smelting processes of other ores exist. |
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SilicateAugite
(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)(SiAl)2O6 |
Most distinguishing features: Colour, cleavage and hardness are indicative of a pyroxene. Augite has 2 cleavage planes at 90°. Industrial/economical uses: None. |
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CarbonateAzurite
Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features: Colour is reliable, association with malachite is also indicative. Industrial/economical uses: A minor ore of copper, also has ornamental uses. Sometimes a pigment (when powdered). |
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SulfateBarite
BaSO4 |
Most distinguishing features: High specific gravity is best indicator, colour and fracture are also helpful. Industrial/economical uses: Primary ore for barium, also used as an additive to drilling mud (because of high SG). Has over 2000 uses in industry. |
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SilicateBiotite
K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features: Colour and habit Industrial/economical uses: Altered into vermiculite, biotite is used as an insulation material and as filler in certain building supplies. |
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SulfideBornite
Cu5FeS4 Other names/forms: Peacock ore |
Most distinguishing features: Green-blue-purple iridescence is indicative, as is a brownish-bronze colour on fresh surfaces. Industrial/economical uses: Mined as an ore of copper, but not as important as chalcopyrite. |
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CarbonateCalcite (massive)
CaCO3 |
Most distinguishing features: Recognized by hardness and cleavage. Dolomite and aragonite have higher densities. Industrial/economical uses: Used in the manufacture of portland cement (quicklime). Also used as a pharmaceutical (antacids, calcium supplements). |
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CarbonateCalcite (sparry)
CaCO3 Other names/forms: Iceland Spar |
Most distinguishing features: Hardness, crystal habit and twin striae are typical. Industrial/economical uses: Used in the manufacture of portland cement (quicklime) and in the pharmaceutical industry. |
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SilicateChalcedony
SiO2 Other names/forms: Micro/Cryptocrystalline Quartz |
Most distinguishing features: Identified by hardness and texture/habit. Industrial/economical uses: Used for making glass and as a source of Silicon. |
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SulfideChalcocite
Cu2S |
Most distinguishing features: Black colour with sooty appearance on weathered surfaces and sectile character are distinctive. Bronze-yellow on fresh surfaces. Industrial/economical uses: Mined as a source of copper. |
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SulfideChalcopyrite
CuFeS2 |
Most distinguishing features: Distinctive brassy-green colour. Has a richer yellow colour than pyrite and a lower hardness. Industrial/economical uses: Mined for its copper which has innumerable industrial uses. |
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SilicateChlorite
(Mg,Fe,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features: Colour and its low hardness are distinguishing characteristics. Industrial/economical uses: None, however chlorite schist sometimes does have ornamental uses. |
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OxideChromite
FeCr2O4 |
Most distinguishing features: Resembles magnetite and ilmenite, but not very magnetic and has a more resinous lustre. Industrial/economical uses: Only ore mineral for chromium. |
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SilicateChrysotile
Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 Other names/forms: Serpentine |
Most distinguishing features: Habit and colour and most indicative properties. Industrial/economical uses: Used in 98% of world's production of asbestos. |
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Native elementCopper
Cu |
Most distinguishing features: Colour and metallic characteristics are diagnostic. Industrial/economical uses: Used as electrical wire due to electrical conductivity and relatively low price. |
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OxideCorundum
Al2O3 |
Most distinguishing features: Hardness is best indicator, crystal habit is good too. Industrial/economical uses: Used as a gemstone. High-quality ruby can be more valuable than diamond. Corundum is also used as an abrasive in sandpaper, polishing compounds, etc. |
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CarbonateDolomite
CaMg(CO3)2 |
Most distinguishing features: Harder than calcite Industrial/economical uses: Used in manufacture of portland cement. |
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SilicateEpidote
Ca2(Fe,Al)3(SiO4)3(OH) |
Most distinguishing features: Slight colour difference between this mineral and olivine, but only under magnification (where details in the crystals can be seen). Also indicitive is the presence of a cleavage plane. Industrial/economical uses: Semiprecious gemstone |
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HalideFluorite
CaF2 |
Most distinguishing features: Cubic crystals, hardness and colour indicative. Industrial/economical uses: Main source of fluorine (which is added to drinking water, toothpaste, used as a flux in industrial uses and as part of CFCs) |
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SulfideGalena
PbS |
Most distinguishing features: Gives off a rotten-egg smell in HCl, very high SG, very metallic lustre. Industrial/economical uses: Main ore from which lead is extracted, also a source of silver. |
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SilicateGarnet
(Mg,Fe,Ca)3Al2(SiO4)3 Other names/forms: Pyrope, Grossular, Almandine |
Most distinguishing features: Crystal habit, colour and hardness. Industrial/economical uses: Abrasives (particularly sandpaper), semi-precious gemstone. |
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Native elementGraphite
C |
Most distinguishing features: Softness and lustre are best indicators. Industrial/economical uses: Used in pencil leads and as a dry lubricant. |
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HalideHalite
NaCl Other names/forms: Salt |
Most distinguishing features: Has a salty taste. Cubic cleavage and hardness are indicative for the less brave geologists. |
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OxideHematite (massive)
Fe2O3 Other names/forms: Haematite |
Most distinguishing features: Deep red streak and earthy lustre are indicative. SG may also be indicative. Industrial/economical uses: Important ore or iron, sometimes used as a gemstone. |
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OxideHematite (specular)
Fe2O3 Other names/forms: Haematite |
Most distinguishing features: Shining gray metallic lustre and deep-red streak are indicative. Industrial/economical uses: Important ore of iron. |
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SilicateHornblende
Ca2(Mg,Fe)4Al(Si7Al)O22(OH,F)2 |
Most distinguishing features: Prominent striations, prismatic crystals and angle on cleavages is distinguishing. Industrial/economical uses: Ornamental. |
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SilicateKaolinite
Al2Si2O5(OH)4 |
Most distinguishing features: Distinctive "clayey" smell, hardness and colour are indicative. Industrial/economical uses: Paper coating/filler, drilling mud additive, ceramics, cosmetics, building supplies, cement, pharmaceuticals and even food. |
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SilicateKyanite
Al2SiO5 |
Most distinguishing features: Bladed habit, colour, and difference of hardness along and across cleavages |
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HydroxideLimonite
FeO(OH) - nH2O |
Most distinguishing features: Colour is best indicator, followed by habit. |
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OxideMagnetite
Fe3O4 |
Most distinguishing features: Highly magnetic. Habit and colour are also indicators. Industrial/economical uses: Mined for iron. Crushed magnetite also been used as aggregate to make high-density concrete for specialized applications, such as nuclear reactors. |
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CarbonateMalachite
Cu2(CO)3(OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features: Colour is primary indicator, as well as habit. Industrial/economical uses: Used as a minor ore of copper and also has ornamental uses due to vivid green colour. |
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SulfideMarcasite
FeS2 |
Most distinguishing features: Bronze-yellow colour and habit are indicative. Streak is also helpful. Industrial/economical uses: Can be used as source of sulfur and iron, but not normally economically valuable. |
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SulfideMolybdenite
MoS2 |
Most distinguishing features: Colour is best indicator. Greasy feel and luster are good as well, as is its relative softness. Industrial/economical uses: Primary ore of which molybdenum is mined. Usually alloyed with iron. |
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SilicateMuscovite
KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features: Colour and habit are best indicators. Industrial/economical uses: Used in the electronics industry in the manufacture of capacitors, transistors, insulators and certain window types. Also used as a filler in building materials. |
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SilicateNepheline
(Na,K)AlSiO4 |
Most distinguishing features: Resembles quartz but instead is softer. Industrial/economical uses: Used in the manufacture of ceramics and glass. |
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SilicateOlivine
Mg2SiO4 - Fe2SiO4 Other names/forms: Forsterite (Mg) and Fayalite (Fe) |
Most distinguishing features: Pistachio-green colour and granular habit. Industrial/economical uses: Peridote (a translucent variety of olivine) is considered a 'gem' mineral. Also used as a refractory sand and infrequently as an abrasive. |
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SilicateOrthoclase
KAlSi3O8 Other names/forms: Kspar |
Most distinguishing features: Colour and evidence of exsolution with plagioclase. |
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SilicatePlagioclase
CaAl2Si2O8 Other names/forms: Anothite (Ca), Albite (Na) |
Most distinguishing features: Parallel striations and white-gray colour separates this mineral from orthoclase (Kspar). Industrial/economical uses: Concrete, filler, sand, gravel, etc. |
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SulfidePyrite (crystalline)
FeS2 |
Most distinguishing features: Colour, hardness, streak and habit are best indicators. Gives off sparks when struck with a hard metal object. Industrial/economical uses: May be used as source of iron or sulfur, but not normally of economic value. |
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SulfidePyrite (massive)
FeS2 |
Most distinguishing features: Colour, hardness, streak and habit are best indicators. Gives off sparks when struck with a hard metal object. Industrial/economical uses: May be used as source of iron or sulfur, but not normally of economic value. |
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OxidePyrolusite
MnO2 |
Most distinguishing features: Will leave sooty marks if touched. Industrial/economical uses: Manganese is used to colour bricks. |
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SulfateSelenite
CaSO4 - 2H2O Other names/forms: Gypsum |
Most distinguishing features: Single large crystals of gypsum, typified by hardness and transparency. Industrial/economical uses: Used in gypsum wallboard. |
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CarbonateSiderite
FeCO3 |
Most distinguishing features: Identified by colour and hardness. Industrial/economical uses: Sometimes used as an iron ore. Also used in pigments where a red or brown colour is desirable. |
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SulfideSphalerite
ZnS |
Most distinguishing features: Low specific gravity distinguishes it from galena, as does colour. Lustre also indicative. Industrial/economical uses: Main ore of which zinc is extracted. |
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SilicateStaurolite
Fe2Al9O6(SiO4)4(O,OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features: The "staurolite cross" and colour are indicative. Industrial/economical uses: Used as an abrasive due to its high hardness. |
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SulfideStibnite
Sb2S3 |
Most distinguishing features: Colour and small subhedral crystals are indicators. Also rather soft. Industrial/economical uses: Important source of antimony (Sb) |
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SilicateTalc
Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features: Mineral is very soft and are often compact masses. Colour is typical and varies to brown, green or gray. |
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SilicateTopaz
Al2SiO4(F,OH)2 |
Most distinguishing features: Resembles quartz, but harder. Industrial/economical uses: Gemstone |
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SilicateTourmaline
Na(Mg,Fe,Li,Mn,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH,F)4 |
Most distinguishing features: Columnar crystals and vertical striations are characteristic, also has poor cleavage. Industrial/economical uses: Gemstone. Due to piezoelectric properties, it is also used in the manufacture of pressure gauges and other electronic components. |
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SilicateTremolite
Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2 Other names/forms: Actinolite |
Most distinguishing features: Noticable habit of white acicular grains. Industrial/economical uses: Sometimes used as an asbestos mineral, and thus linked as a health hazard. |
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SilicateWollastonite
CaSiO3 |
Most distinguishing features: Resembles tremolite, but has different cleavage. Industrial/economical uses: Replacement for chrysotile asbestos in fire-resistant building supplies. Also used in paints, film and plastics. |
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SilicateZircon
ZrSiO4 |
Most distinguishing features: Excellent crystalline habit, density and streak/colour are indicative. Industrial/economical uses: Source of zirconium and hafnium |
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