S. N. |
Names |
Family |
Color |
Moh's Hardness |
Density |
Transparency |
Occurance |
Country of Origin |
Chemical Composition |
Short Description |
1 |
AEGIRINE |
clinopyroxene group of inosilicates |
Dark Green, Greenish Black |
6 |
3.5 to 3.54 |
Transparent |
Common |
Norway,Buskerud,Kongsberg |
pyroxene group |
Aegirine is the sodium endmember of the aegirine-augite series. Aegirine occurs as dark green monoclinic prismatic crystals. It has a glassy luster and perfect cleavage. |
2 |
ADAMITE |
Olivenite |
Yellow |
3.5 |
4.32 - 4.48 |
Translucent |
Common |
Mexico |
Zinc Arsenic Hyroxide |
Adamite is a zinc arsenate hydroxide mineral, Zn2AsO4OH. It is a mineral that typically occurs in the oxidized or weathered zone above zinc ore occurrences. Pure adamite is colorless. |
3 |
ADULARIA |
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Another name for Orthoclase. Please see Orthoclase |
4 |
AGATE |
Chalcedony |
White, grey, green, yellow, brown |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.64 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Angola, Armenia,
Bulgaria, India, Jamaica, Panama, Papua New Guinea |
Silicon Dioxide |
Agate is a microcrystalline variety of quartz, chiefly chalcedony, characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks but can be common in certain metamorphic rocks. |
5 |
AGATE W/ AMETHYST |
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Please see Agate & Amethyst |
6 |
AGUA NEVADA |
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7 |
ALABASTER |
Gypsum |
White, pink, brown |
2 |
2.32 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Italy |
Hydrated Calcium Sulfate |
Alabaster is a substance is sulphate of lime or gypsum. Alabaster is a fine-grained variety of gypsum. It is one of the softest minerals known to nature and It is widely used as an ornamental stone in sculpture. |
8 |
ALABANDITE |
Galena group |
Iron black,brown,green, green |
3.5 to 4 |
3.95 - 4.04 |
opaque |
|
Aydin in turkey, Alabanda |
Manganese sulfide
|
Group of octahedral alabandite crystals partially coated with pink rhodochrosite. |
9 |
ALBITE |
Feldspar |
White, blue, grey |
6 - 6½ |
2.6 - 2.65 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Angola, Antarctica,
Argentina, Armenia, Tunisia, Thailand, Turkey |
Sodium Aluminum Silicate |
Albite is a common felspar and is the "pivot" mineral of two different feldspar series. It is most often associated with the plagioclase series where it is an end member of this series. |
10 |
ALBITE JADE |
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Please see Albite & Jade |
11 |
ALEXANDRITE |
Chrysoberyl |
dark red, yellow-red, dark green, orange-yellow |
8½ |
3.64 - 3.68 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Sri Lanka, India,
Mongolia, Paraguay, Slovakia, Ukraine, Uruguay, Yemen |
Beryllium Aluminum Oxide |
The alexandrite variety displays a color change dependent upon light, along with strong pleochroism. Alexandrite results from small scale replacement of aluminum by chromium oxide, which is responsible for alexandrite's characteristic green to red color change. |
12 |
ALMANDINE |
Garnet |
Red with violet tint |
7 - 7½ |
3.93 - 4.30 |
Translucent |
Common |
Afghanistan, Algeria, Brazil, Burma , Colombia, Guatemala, Nepal |
Iron Aluminum Silicate |
Almandine, also known incorrectly as almandite, is a species of mineral belonging to the garnet Group. Almandine is an iron alumina garnet, of deep red color, inclining to purple. |
13 |
ALLOPHANE |
Kaolinite-serpentine |
White,green, blue |
3 |
1.9 |
Translucent |
|
grafenthal,germany |
Hydrous Aluminium silicate clay mineraloid |
Allophane is a weathering or hydrothermal alteration product of volcanic glass and feldspars and sometimes has a composition similar to kaolinite but generally has a molar ratio of Al:Si = 2. It typically forms under mildly acidic to neutral pH (5-7). |
14 |
ALUMINUM |
Metal |
Bright grey, silver |
1½ |
2.7 |
Opaque |
Common |
Azerbaijan, China,
Italy, Russia |
Aluminum Oxide |
Aluminum is a soft, durable, lightweight, malleable metal with appearance ranging from silvery to dull grey, depending on the surface roughness. Aluminum is nonmagnetic and nonsparking. |
15 |
ALUNITE |
Alunite |
White, yellow- grey |
3½ - 4 |
2.6 - 2.9 |
Translucent |
Uncommon |
Bulgaria, Canada,
Chile, China, Eritrea, Egypt, Fiji, Ecuador, France, Philippines |
Hydrous Potassium Aluminum Sulfate |
Alunite is also known as alumstone and is a source of the chemical known as alum. Alunite forms from the action of sulfuric acids upon potassium rich feldspars in a process called "alunitization". |
16 |
AMAZONITE |
Feldspar Microcline |
Green, blue-green, light green |
6 - 6½ |
2.56 - 2.58 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Burma, Portugal,
Madagascar, Russia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, |
Potassium Aluminum Silicate |
Amazonite is a green variety of microcline feldspar. The name is taken from that of the Amazon River, from which certain green stones were formerly obtained, but it is doubtful whether green feldspar occurs in the Amazon area. |
17 |
AMBER |
Organic Amber |
Yellow, brown, orange-red |
2 - 2½ |
1.05 - 1.09 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Israel, Germany, Japan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia |
Succinic Acid |
Amber is fossil tree resin, which is appreciated for its color and beauty. Although not mineralized, it is often classified as a gemstone. |
18 |
AMBLYGONITE |
Amblygonite |
White, Yellow, grey, blue-grey, green |
5.5-6 |
2.98 - 3.11 |
Translucent |
Common |
Germany |
Hydroxyy phosphate of aluminum |
Amblygonite is a fluorophosphate mineral. The mineral occurs in pegmatite deposits and is easily mistaken for albite and other feldspars. Amblygonite forms a series with montebrasite, the low fluorine endmember. |
19 |
AMETHYST |
Quartz |
Light to dark purple, violet |
7 |
2.65 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria,
Cambodia, Chile, Finland, India, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malawi |
Silicon Dioxide |
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often
used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek a- ("not") and methustos ("intoxicated"), a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. |
20 |
AMETHYST W/ AGATE |
Quartz |
Light to dark purple, violet |
7 |
2.65 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Azerbaijan, Bulgaria,
Cambodia, Chile, Finland, India, Kazakhstan, Laos, Malawi |
Silicon Dioxide |
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often
used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek a- ("not") and methustos ("intoxicated"), a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness. |
21 |
AMETRINE |
Quartz |
Red, Yellow, Black, Green, Blue |
6½ - 7 |
2.6 - 2.65 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Bolivia, Brazil,
Canada, India, South Africa, USA |
Silicon Dioxide |
Ametrine, also known as trystine or by its trade name as bolivianite, is a naturally occurring variety of quartz. It is a mixture of amethyst and citrine with zones of purple and yellow or orange. Green-yellow or golden-blue ametrine does not exist naturally. |
22 |
AMMOLITE |
Fossilized |
Blue, violet, green, red, pink |
4.5 - 5.5 |
2.8 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA & Canada |
Calcium Carbonate |
Ammolite is an 'opal like', organic gemstone that is formed from fossilized, extinct mollusks called Ammonites. Ammonites were a squid-like marine animal and existed through out the Paleozoic Era until the end of the Crustaceous Era. |
23 |
AMMONITE |
Organic Fossilized |
Grey, brown, white, red, green |
6 - 6½ |
2.8 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA & Canada |
Calcium Carbonate |
Ammonites are excellent index fossils, and it is often possible to link the rock layer in which a particular species or genus is found to specific geological time periods. |
24 |
AMPHIBOLIC ROCK |
Metamorphic Rock |
Black, green, white |
5.5-6 |
2.85 |
Opaque |
Common |
Austria, Sweden, USA, Germany, France |
Mineral Grouping |
Amphibolite is a grouping of rocks composed mainly of amphibole and plagioclase feldspars, with little or no quartz. It is typically dark-colored and heavy, with a weakly foliated or schistose (flaky) structure. |
25 |
AMPHIBOLITE W/ GARNET |
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See Amphibolic Rock |
26 |
ANALCIME |
Zeolite |
Colorless, white, pink, yellow, green |
5 - 5½ |
2.22 -2.29 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Angola, Armenia,
Australia, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Brazil, Belgium |
Hydrated Sodium Aluminum Silicate |
Analcime is a popular and interesting mineral. It is sometimes known as analcite, although analcime is preferred. |
27 |
ANATASE |
Oxide minerals |
Black, red, brown, yellow, dark blue, grey |
5½ - 6 |
3.82 - 3.97 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Bolivia, Brazil,
Cameroon, Canada, Spain, Sudan, Sweden |
Titanium Oxide |
More commonly known as octahedrite, a name which, indeed, is earlier than anatase, and given because of the common (acute) octahedral habit of the crystals. Other names, now obsolete, are oisanite and dauphinite. |
28 |
ANDALUSITE |
Andalusite |
Yellow-green, brown, grey-green |
7½ |
3.05 - 3.20 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Andorra, Armenia,
Burma, Egypt, Hungary, India |
Aluminum Silicate |
Andalusite is an Aluminum nesosilicate mineral. The variety chiastolite commonly contains dark inclusions of carbon or clay which form a checker-board pattern when shown in cross-section. A clear variety first found in Andalusia, Spain. |
29 |
ANDERSONITE |
Carbonate |
Bright yellow green, green |
2½ |
2.79 - 2.87 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Hillside mine, Bagdad, Yavapai County, Arizona, USA |
Hydrated Sodium Calcium Uranyl Carbonate |
Andersonite is a rare uranyl carbonate mineral, that was only described in the last half century. It has a luster that seems to glow and in fact it is very fluorescent. Andersonite specimens will usually glow a bright lemon yellow in ultraviolet light. |
30 |
ANDORITE |
Orthorhombic |
Dark steel-gray, may tarnish yellow or iridescent |
3 - 3.5 |
5.33 - 5.37 |
Opaque |
Common |
Bolivia, China, France, Russia, USA |
Lead Silver Antimony |
Andorite was first described in 1892 for an occurrence in the Baia Sprie mine, Baia Sprie, Maramures County, Romania, and named for Hungarian amateur mineralogist Andor von Semsey Andorite occurs in low-temperature polymetallic hydrothermal veins. |
31 |
ANDRADITE |
Garnet |
Green, black, brown, yellow-brown |
6½ - 7 |
3.7 - 4.1 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Ecuador, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, India, Serbia |
Calcium Iron Silicate |
Andradite is a species of the Garnet Group. |
32 |
ANGLESITE |
Baryte |
Yellow, green |
2.5-3.0 |
6.3 |
Transparent to translucent |
|
Tsumeb, Southwest africa |
Lead Sulfate |
Anglesite is a lead sulfate mineral with the chemical formula PbSO4. It occurs as an oxidation product of primary lead sulfide ore, galena. |
33 |
ANGELITE |
|
Colorless, white, yellow, gray, blue, orange-red, red, pink, purple |
3 - 3.5 |
2.98 |
Transparent to translucent |
|
|
Calcium sulfate |
barite is useful as a weighting agent for drilling fluids in oil and gas exploration. Other uses are in added-value applications which include the car, electronics, TV screen, rubber, and glass ceramics and paint industry, radiation shielding and medical |
34 |
ANNABERGITE |
Vivianite |
Green, rose, light grey-light green, white |
1½ - 2½ |
3.07 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Netherlands,
New Zealand, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Turkey, Zimbabwe |
Hydrated Nickel Arsenate |
Annabergite is a mineral consisting of a hydrous nickel arsenate. Crystals are minute and capillary and rarely met with, the mineral occurring usually as soft earthy masses and encrustations. |
35 |
ANORTHOCLASE |
Feldspar |
White,yellow, pink |
6-6.5 |
2.57-2.6 |
Transparent |
|
Sicily, Italy |
sodium-aluminium silicate |
Anorthoclase is doubly terminated anorthoclase crystal from Kinki Region, Honshu island, Japan |
36 |
ANORTHOSITE |
Feldspar |
Colorless, red- grey, white |
6 - 6½ |
2.74 - 2.76 |
Opaque |
Common |
Brazil, Cameroon,
Canada, Chile, China, Cost Rica, Hungary |
Calcium Aluminum Silicate |
Anorthosite on Earth can be divided into two types: Proterozoic and Archean. These two types of anorthosite have different modes of occurrence, appear to be restricted to different periods in Earth's history, and are thought to have had different origins. |
37 |
ANTHRACITE |
Coal |
Teal, black, blue-grey, green |
3.0 - 3.8 |
1.3–1.4 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Austria, China,
France, Germany, Switzerland, Ukraine, USA, |
Complex Mixture |
Anthracite are blue coal, hard coal, stone coal, blind coal (in Scotland), Kilkenny coal (in Ireland), crow coal (or craw coal from its shiny black appearance), and black diamond. |
38 |
ANTIMONITE |
Stibnite |
Lead-grey with pale blue tint |
2 |
4.63 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Costa Rica, Cuba,
Czech Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary |
Antimony Sulfide |
Stibnite has no significant uses, except as a precursor to antimony oxide, which is the most commonly marketed form of antimony. In ancient times, it was used as mascara called kohl. |
39 |
APATITE |
Apatite |
colorless, pink, yellow,
green, blue, violet |
5 |
3.16 - 3.23 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Armenia, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Eritrea, Gabon |
Calcium phosphate with chlorine, fluorite, Hydroxyyl |
Apatite is one of few minerals that are produced and used by biological micro-environmental systems. Fluoro-Chloro Apatite forms the basis of the, now obsolete, Halophosphor fluorescent tube phosphor system. Is also called Cat's Eye. |
40 |
APACHE GOLD STONE |
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Please check gold. |
41 |
APOPHYLLITE |
Apophyllite |
Many Shades |
4.5 - 5 |
2.3 - 2.4 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
India, USA, Mexico, Iceland |
Potassium Calcite Fluorite Hydroxide |
The name apophyllite refers to a specific group of phyllosilicates, a class of minerals. Originally, the group name referred to a specific mineral, but was redefined in 1978 to stand for a class of minerals of similar chemical makeup that comprise a solid solution series. |
42 |
AQUAMARINE |
Beryl |
Light blue to dark blue,
blue-green |
7½ - 8 |
2.68 - 2.74 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Very Common |
Malawi, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Norway, Portugal, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
Beryllium Aluminum Silicate |
Aquamarine is a gemstone-quality transparent variety of beryl, having a delicate blue or turquoise color, suggestive of the tint of seawater. It is closely related to the gem emerald. |
43 |
AQUAMARINE W/ MORGANITE |
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Please see Aquamarine and Morganite |
44 |
AQUA NEVADA |
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45 |
AQUAPRASE |
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Please see Aquamarine |
46 |
AQUA TEEN |
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Please see Aquamarine. |
47 |
ARAGONITE |
Aragonite |
Colorless, white, brown, grey, yellow, red, pink, purple, orange, blue, green |
3½ - 4 |
2.947 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Spain, Italy, Mexico, USA, Pakistan, Brazil |
Calcium Carbonate |
Aragonite is the second most common polymorph of natural calcium carbonate (the most common is calcite). It is significantly less widespread and abundant than calcite and is formed under a much narrower range of physio-chemical conditions. |
48 |
ARSENOPYRITE |
Arsenopyrite |
Silver-white to steel-grey |
5½ - 6 |
6.07 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Ghana, Uzbekistan,
Vietnam, Zimbabwe |
Iron Arsenic Sulfide |
A major ore of arsenic, Arsenopyite can contain a small amount of gold as an impurity. Although an ore of arsenic, it is not intentionally mined for that reason. |
49 |
ARTISANS |
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An artisan is a skilled manual worker who crafts items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewelry, household items, and tools. The term can also be used as an adjective to refer to the craft of hand making food products, such as bread, beverages and cheese. |
50 |
ASBESTOS |
Silicate |
Lavender, blue, green, white |
2 - 5 |
2 - 2.8 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Afghanistan, Angola,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany |
Sodium Iron Magnesium Silicate Hydroxyide |
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals. The word asbestos is derived from a Greek adjective meaning inextinguishable. |
51 |
ASTEROID |
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52 |
ASTROPHYLLITE |
Inosilicates |
Golden brown to yellow, black, green |
3½ - 4 |
3.2–3.4 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada; Pikes Peak, Colorado, USA |
Potassium Sodium Iron Manganese Titanium Silicate Hydroxyide |
Astrophyllite is a very rare, brown to golden-yellow hydrous potassium iron titanium silicate mineral. Belonging to the astrophyllite group, astrophyllite may be classed either as an inosilicate, phyllosilicate, or an intermediate between the two. |
53 |
ASTROPHYLLITE W/ EUDIALYTE |
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Please see Astrophyllite and Eudialite |
54 |
AURICHALCITE |
Carbonate |
Pale green, sky blue, blue-green |
1½ |
3.96 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Morocco, Namibia,
Norway, Vietnam, Zambia |
Zinc Copper Carbonate Hydroxyide |
Aurichalcite is a carbonate mineral, usually found as a secondary mineral in copper and zinc deposits. |
55 |
AUTUNITE |
Autunite |
Green-yellow, pale green, dark green |
2 - 2½ |
3.05 - 3.2 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Germany, Hungary,
Italy, New Zealand, Slovakia, Uzbekistan |
Hydrated Copper Uranium Phosphate |
Autunite is one of the more attractive and popular radioactive minerals. The uranium in its chemical formula provides this radioactivity. Autunite is probably the most popular uranium mineral for collectors. |
56 |
AVENTURINE |
Beryl |
Green, red-brown,
gold-brown |
7 |
2.64 - 2.69 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Austria, Germany,
India, Slovakia, South Africa, USA, |
Silicon Dioxide |
Aventurine is generally cut into curved pieces for necklaces or other jewels, or for use as pendants, but is also much used for carving and figurines. Aventurine is a form of Quartz. |
57 |
AZURITE |
Azurite |
Dark blue, violet |
3½ - 4 |
3.7 - 3.9 |
Opaque |
Common |
Bulgaria, Canada,
Chile, Hungary, Greenland, Jamaica, Japan |
Hydroxyy of Copper Carbonate |
Azurite is a soft, deep blue copper mineral produced by weathering of copper ore deposits. The blue of azurite is exceptionally deep and clear. |
58 |
AZURMALACHITE |
Carbonate |
Blue and green, turquoise bands |
3.5 - 4 |
3.70 - 3.95 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Rare |
United States, France, Nambia |
Copper Carbonate Hydroxide |
Azurite is a mixture of azurite and malachite. It is an attractive stone which combines vivid blue colour of azurite and saturated green colour of malachite. It can be cut into cabochons or used for small objects d'art.
|
59 |
BABINGTONITE |
Calcium Iron Silicate |
Green to Black and Brown |
6 |
3.3 |
Translucent |
Uncommon |
India, China |
Calcium Iron Silicate Hydroxide |
Babingtonite is a calcium iron manganese inosilicate mineral. It is a very dark green to black translucent (in thin crystals or splinters) mineral crystallizing in the triclinic system with typically radial short prismatic clusters and druzy coatings. |
60 |
BANDED HORNSTONE |
Metamorphic Rock |
Grey, light brown, black |
7.5-8 |
3.05 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
America, South America, Asia, Australia, Europe |
Complex Silicate of Aluminium and Alkalies with Hydroxyl |
Hornstones are fine-grained nonfoliated metamorphic rocks with no specific composition. They are produced by contact metamorphism. They are "baked" while near a heat source such as a magma chamber, sill or dike. |
61 |
BANDED JASPER |
Chalcedony Banded |
All colors, mostly striped, or spotted |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.91 |
Opaque |
Common |
Egypt, Australia,
Brazil, India, Canada, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Russia |
Silicon Dioxide |
Uniformly colored jasper is rare usually it is multicolored, striped or flamed. Sometimes jasper can be grown together with agate or opal. |
62 |
BARITE |
Barite |
Colorless, brown,
yellow,
red,
green, blue |
3 - 3½ |
4.43 - 4.46 |
Transparent |
Common |
Spain, Germany, Canada, France, India, Romania and localities in US |
Barium Sulphate |
Barite is useful as a weighting agent for drilling fluids in oil and gas exploration. Other uses are in added-value applications which include the car, electronics, TV screen, rubber, and glass ceramics and paint industry, radiation shielding and medical applications. |
63 |
BASALT |
Pyroxene |
Dark grey, dark green, dark brown, black |
2 |
2.9 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Czech Republic |
Plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene, olivine, magnetite, and ilmenite |
Basalt is a local material used for road paving and crushed stone for read and railroad ballast; also used in a minor way as building stone and as raw material for the production of rock wool and glass wool. |
64 |
BASTNAESITE |
Bastnasite |
Pale white, tan, gray, brown, yellow and pink |
4 - 4.5 |
4.7 - 5 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Sweden, Norway, Mongolia, Turkey |
Cerium Lanthanum Yttrium Carbonate Fluoride |
Bastnasite, which is sometimes spelled as bastnaesite, is one of a few rare earth carbonate minerals. It gets its name from its type locality, Bastnas Mine, Riddarhyttan, Vastmanland, Sweden., it is wide spread and one of the more common rare earth carbonates. |
65 |
BATTEN JADE |
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|
|
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|
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See Jade |
66 |
BAUXITE |
Aluminum oxide |
Beige, yellow, white, grey, brown |
1½ - 2 |
2.8 to 3.25 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Australia, Austria,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil |
Iron and Aluminum Hydroxyides |
Bauxite is a naturally occurring, heterogeneous material composed primarily of one or more aluminum Hydroxyide minerals, plus various mixtures of silica, iron oxide, titania, aluminosilicate, and other impurities in minor or trace amounts. |
67 |
BENAVIDESITE |
Sulfosalt mineral |
Lead Grey |
2.7 |
5.6 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Japan, Peru, Romania, Sweden |
Sulfosalt Sulfide |
Benavidesite is a mineral group of sulfosalts. |
68 |
BENITOITE |
Metamorphic Rock |
Light blue to deep indigo blue |
6 - 6.5 |
3.6 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Rare |
USA, Japan |
Barium titanium silicate |
Benitoite was first discovered in 1907, and upon its initial discovery was thought to be Sapphire. The crystal structure of Benitoite is unique, and is the only significant mineral in its crystal class. It crystallizes in a rare hexagonal sub-class called ditrigonal-dipyramidal.
|
69 |
BERYL |
Beryl |
Gold-yellow, yellow-green,
yellow, pink, colorless |
7½ - 8 |
2.66 - 2.87 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Germany, Hungary,
Italy, New Zealand, Slovakia, India, Uzbekistan, Italy |
Beryllium Aluminum Silicate |
Beryl is colorless in pure form; it is the many different impurities that give beryl its varied coloration. Beryl is praised for its transparency, high hardness, and beautiful colors with wide range of tones and shades. |
70 |
BERYLLONITE |
Beryl |
White to Plate Yellow |
5.5 - 6 |
2.8 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
USA, Brazil, Afghanistan |
Sodium Beryllium Phosphate |
Beryllonite is a rare beryllium mineral. It is found at only a few places around the world. It can be cut as gems, but lacks the color, fire, and hardness necessary to be a popular gemstone.
|
71 |
BIRDS EYE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please check Rhyolite. |
72 |
BIOTITE |
Mica |
Dark brown, green brown, dark brown, yellow, white |
2.5-3 |
2.8 - 3.4 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Italy, Switzerland, Australia |
Potassium iron magnesium aluminum silicate Hydroxyide fluoride |
Biotite is a common phyllosilicate mineral within the mica group. It refers to the dark mica series, primarily a solid-solution series. |
73 |
BISMUTHINITE |
Aikinite |
Lead grey to tin white |
2 - 2½ |
6.78 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Bulgaria, Burundi,
Canada, Chile, China, Hungary, India |
Bismuth Sulfide |
Bismuthinite is an important ore of bismuth. Sprays of steel gray prismatic bismuthinite crystals radiate outward from a common attachment point in the more spectacular specimens of this somewhat rare sulfide mineral. |
74 |
BIXBITE |
Beryl |
Light red to dark red |
7.5 - 8 |
2.67 - 2.84 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA |
Beryllium Aluminum Silicate |
Bixbite (or red beryl) is the red color variety of the beryl family of minerals. This gemstone gets its rich red coloring form the traces of manganese added to the basic beryl mineral formula. Bixbite is generally quite rare and is usually very small in size due it's scarcity. |
75 |
BLADE CALCITE |
Calcite |
Colorless, blue, pink, orange, green, red, yellow, black, white
|
3 |
2.69 - 2.71 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
South Africa,
Australia, Burma, India, Namibia, United States, Zambia, Germany |
Calcium Carbonate |
Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate. The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. |
76 |
BLUE LACE AGATE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Agate |
77 |
BLUE QUARTZ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Quartz |
78 |
BLUE SLAG COPPER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see copper. |
79 |
BLUE TOPAZ |
Topaz |
Colorless, yellow, red-brown, light blue, pink-red, violet, light green |
8 |
3.49 - 3.57 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Brazil, Afghanistan,
Burma, China, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, |
Hydroxyy silicate of Aluminum with fluorite and iron |
The name topaz is most probably derived from a place of discovery on an island in the Red Sea, now Zebirget but formerly Topazos. Colors of gemstone that is today called topaz are rarely vivid. |
80 |
BOJI STONE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
81 |
BOLEITE |
Halides |
Indigo blue, Light blue. |
3-3.5 |
4.8-5.1 |
Transparent to subtranslucent |
|
Boleo, Baja California, Mexico. |
Hydroxychloride of potassium, lead, silver and copper |
Boleite is a highly attractive, though uncommon, blue mineral that forms in very distinct crystal habits. Its crystals can be perfectly cubic, both in individual isolated crystals, and may be perched on fragile matrix |
82 |
BOLTWOODITE |
Uranium silicate mineral |
Pale yellow |
3½ - 4 |
4.7 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Argentina, Australia,
Czech Republic, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico |
Hydrated Potassium Uranyl Silicate Hydroxyide |
Boltwoodite is a hydrated potassium uranyl silicate mineral. It is formed from the oxidation and alteration of primary uranium ores. |
83 |
BORACITE |
Tektoborates |
Whitish Green |
7 - 7.5 |
2.91 - 3.1 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
England, India |
Magnesium Borate Chloride |
Boracite produces crystals of various colours with vitreous to adamantine lustre. It has good clarity and hardness, but it is slightly soluble in water. This fact limits the use of boracite as a gemstone. It is named so due to its high amount of Boron.
|
84 |
BORAX |
Tincalconite-Borax |
Colorless, grey, white, yellow, blue, green |
2 - 2½ |
1.715 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Argentina, Bolivia,
China, India, Italy, Mexico, Turkey, USA |
Hydrated Sodium Borate |
The term borax is used for a number of closely related minerals or chemical compounds that differ in their crystal water content, but usually refers to the decahydrate. |
85 |
BORNITE |
Sulfide mineral |
Brown, copper red |
3 |
5.06 - 5.09 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Afghanistan,
Argentina, Atlantic Ocean, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada |
Sulfide of Copper and Iron |
Bornite has a brown to copper-red color on fresh surfaces that tarnishes to various iridescent shades of blue to purple in places. Its striking iridescence gives it the nickname peacock copper or peacock ore. |
86 |
BOTRYOIDAL CHALCEDONY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Chalcedony |
87 |
BOURNONITE |
Bournonite |
Steel-grey, black |
2½ - 3 |
5.83 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Canada, Channel Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Fiji |
Lead Copper Antimony Sulfide |
Bournonite is a sulfosalt mineral species, a sulfantimonite of lead and copper. |
88 |
BOUSSINGAULTITE |
Picromerite |
Colorless, Yellow pink, Light yellow, Pink. |
2 |
1.7 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Tuscany, Italy |
Sulfate mineral |
Boussingaultite is monoclinic symmetry and forms clear, often rounded crystals. |
89 |
BRAZILIANITE |
Phosphate |
Yellow, green, colorless |
4.5 - 5 |
2.45 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Brazil, USA |
Sodium Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxide |
Brazilianite, whose name derives from its country of origin, Brazil, is a typically yellow-green phosphate mineral, most commonly found in phosphate-rich pegmatites. One noted deposit of brazilianite is in the surroundings of Conselheiro Pena, in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
|
90 |
BRECCIATED WHITE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please check jaspher. |
91 |
BROOKITE |
Oxide minerals |
Brown, yellow- brown, red-brown |
5½ - 6 |
4.08 - 4.18 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Australia, Belarus,
Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Madagascar, Morocco |
Titanium Oxide |
Brookite is orthorhombic, and one of the four naturally occurring polymorphs (minerals with the same composition but different structure). Brookite is rare compared to anatase and rutile and, like these forms, it exhibits photocatalytic activity. |
92 |
BRONZITE |
Pyroxene |
Greenish brown |
5.5 |
3.35 |
Transparent,To opaque |
|
|
magnesium iron silicate |
Bronzite is an iron-bearing variety of Enstatite from Austria. It has green-brown colour with bronze-like sub-metallic lustre. It was known long before Enstatite. |
93 |
BRUCITE |
Brucite |
White, pale green, blue, gray |
2.5-3 |
2.39 - 2.4 |
Transparent |
|
New Jersey, USA |
Magnesium hydroxide |
Brucite is most often in crude, uninteresting form, but several localities produce distinct and interesting crystals which are highly desirable to collectors. Brucite may form as a standalone mineral. |
94 |
BRUNO JASPER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please check jasper. |
95 |
BUDDSTONE |
Chalcedony |
Leek-Green, Yellow-Green |
7 |
2.61 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Australia, Brazil,
India, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Russia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tanzania |
Silicon dioxide |
The name buddstone has been given to a green chlorite-rich Chrysoprase with white veining, found in southern Africa. |
96 |
BUMBLE BEE JASPER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calcium carbonate |
|
97 |
BUTTE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
98 |
BUTTER JADE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Jade |
99 |
BYRATO CALCITE |
Monoclinic |
Colourless, white, greyish, greenish, light yellow |
4 |
3.66 - 3.71 |
Transparent, Translucent |
Common |
England, UK |
|
Byrato calcite has at least one perfect and one imperfect cleavage. It is a brittle mineral, and breaks with an uneven to conchoidal fracture. |
100 |
BYSTRITE |
Cancrinite |
Yellow |
5 |
2.43 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
south of Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia |
Silicate mineral |
Bystrite has a structure that is shared with many of the minerals in the cancrinite group. It exhibits a hexagonal crystal structure with a 3m point group. The structure of bystrite could not be easily found due to the mineral exhibiting a strong pseudotranslation. |
101 |
BYTONITE |
Feldspar |
Colorless, grey, white |
6 - 6.5 |
2.72 - 2.74 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
South Africa, Mexico, Canada, UK, USA |
Calcium Sodium Aluminum Silicate |
Bytownite is a rarer form of feldspar, more commonly seen as a faceted gemstone then as a collectors mineral. It is usually translucent without a crystal form. |
102 |
CACOXENITE |
|
Yellow to brownish yellow, reddish orange, golden yellow, deep orange, green |
3-4 |
2.2-2.6 |
Translucent |
Common |
Bohemia, Czech |
Iron aluminium phosphate |
Cacoxenite is just something that forms inside of an Amethyst or other gemstone, displaying as rutile or golden tufts. However, there are the rare occasions when this becomes its own visually appealing gemstone. |
103 |
CALCITE |
Calcite |
Colorless, blue, pink, orange, green, red, yellow, black, white
|
3 |
2.69 - 2.71 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
South Africa,
Australia, Burma, India, Namibia, United States, Zambia, Germany |
Calcium Carbonate |
Calcite is a carbonate mineral and the most stable polymorph of calcium carbonate. The other polymorphs are the minerals aragonite and vaterite. |
104 |
CALCITE W/ PYRITE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Calcite and Pyrite |
105 |
CAMPYLITE |
|
White |
3.5 - 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Campylite is a variety of the lead arsenate mineral
mimetite which received the name from the Greek
'kampylos'- bent, on account of the barrel-shaped bend
of its crystals. It has also been used as an alternate
name for pyromorphite.
|
106 |
CARNELIAN |
Chalcedony |
Pale orange, red |
6½ - 7 |
2.58-2.64 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
France, Germany |
Silicon Dioxide |
Carnelian (also spelled cornelian) is a reddish-brown mineral which is commonly used as a semi-precious gemstone. Similar to carnelian is sard, which is generally harder and darker. |
107 |
CARNOTITE |
Carnotite |
Yellow, golden yellow, green-yellow |
2 |
4.7 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Kazakhstan,
Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Norway, Spain |
Hydrated Potassium Uranium Vanadate |
Carnotite is a relatively uncommon mineral, yet common enough to be an important ore of uranium and vanadium. |
108 |
CARROLITE |
Linnaeite |
Bright silver color |
4.5-5.5 |
4.5-4.8 |
Opaque |
|
Maryland,USA |
Sulfide of copper and cobalt |
Carrollite from Kambove, Katanga. This specimen is 4.3 cm wide, with a 1.2 cm carrollite crystal partly covered by pyrite, between calcite crystals. |
109 |
CASSITERITE |
Cassiterite |
Black, yellow, brown, red, white |
6 - 7 |
6.98 - 7.01 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Bulgaria, Burma,
Burundi, Ecuador, Finland, Greece, Greenland, Indonesia, Ireland, Norway |
Tin Oxide |
Cassiterite's name is derived from the term “Cassiterides” which was applied 'islands off the western coast of Europe' in pre-Roman times. |
110 |
CATAPLEIITE |
Zirconium |
Blue, gray, yellowish-brown, reddish or colorless |
5 - 6 |
2.8 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
USA, Madagascar, Norway, Canada |
Hydrated Sodium Zirconium Silicate |
Catapleiite is a rather rare zirconium mineral. It forms in alkaline rocks and rare rocks known as agpaites which are igneous rocks of unusual concentrations. They are characterized by high concentrations of alkali metals. |
111 |
CAT'S EYE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Chrysoberyl |
112 |
CAVANSITE |
Zeolite |
Green Blue to Ink Blue |
3 - 4 |
2.25-2.33 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
India, USA |
Calcium Vanadium Silicate Hydroxide |
Cavansite is a beautiful and rare mineral. It was only discovered in the last 30 years and is found in only a few locallities. By far the best crystals come from the famous zeolite quarries in Poona, India. Crystal aggregates consist of spherical rosettes with jutting pointed crystals. The deep blue color of even the smallest cavansite crystals is truly amazing. |
113 |
CELESTITE |
Baryte Group |
Colorless, milky white, pale blue, yellow |
3 - 3.5 |
3.96 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
England, Italy, USA |
Strontium Sulfate |
Celestite is used in nuclear industry in the manufacture of rubber, paint and electrical batteries in the refining of beet sugar and in the preparation of iridescent glass and porcelain. |
114 |
CERUSSITE |
Carbonate |
Colorless, white, cream, light gray, light yellow, and brown |
3 - 3.5 |
6.5 - 6.6 |
Transparent to translucent
|
Common |
USA, Nambia, Morocco, England, New Mexica |
Lead Carbonate |
Cerussite is an interesting mineral, forming in an array of fascinating crystal formations and bizarre twinning habits. It is easily identifiable by its heavy weight, brilliant luster, and crystal habits. Cerussite also performs interesting reactions during blowpipe testing. Specimens may be fragile and should be handled with care.
|
115 |
CHABAZITE |
Zeolite |
Colorless, Red, Yellow, Pink, Green |
3 - 5 |
2 - 2.2 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
India, Iceland, USA, Nova Scotia, Germany, Switzerland |
Calcium Sodium Potassium Aluminium Silicate Hydroxide |
Chabazite, also known as acadialite, is one of the lesser known zeolites, but still a popular one to collect. Chabazite forms in the petrified bubbles of volcanic rocks that have had a slight amount metamorphism. |
116 |
CHALCANTHITE |
Sulfate |
Bright blue, sky-blue, greenish-blue
|
2.5 |
2.17 - 2.28 |
Transparent, Translucent |
Rare |
Spain, Chile, England |
Hydrated Copper Sulfat |
Chalcanthite is natural, water-soluble copper sulphate. A secondary mineral that is formed in arid climates or in rapidly oxidizing copper deposits. It is usually of post-mining formation, forming on mine walls and by the action of acidic surface waters on copper veins.
|
117 |
CHALCEDONY |
Chalcedony |
White, grey, green, yellow, brown |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.64 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Belize, Denmark,
Eritrea, Eritrea, Greenland, India |
Silicon Oxide |
Traditionally defined as a fibrous cryptocrystalline variety of Quartz, more recently, it has been shown that much Chalcedony is a mixture of Quartz and Morganite (silica mineral). When it is concentrically banded it is called by the sub variety name Agate. |
118 |
CHALCOPYRITE |
Chalcopyrite |
Brass
yellow, bright golden |
3.5 - 4 |
4.1 - 4.3 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Zambia, USA, Zaire,
Chile, Norway, Spain |
Copper Iron Sulfide |
One of the most important copper ores. Yielding the by-products gold and silver. About 80 percent of the world's copper is derived from the treatment of chalcopyrite ore. The minerals referred to as "Fool's Gold" because of its bright golden color. |
119 |
CHALCOCITE |
Sulfide |
Blue black, gray, black, black gray, or steel gray |
2.5 - 3 |
5.5 - 5.8 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
England, St. Ives, Nambia, Kazakhstan |
Copper Sulfide |
Chalcocite is a coveted and iconic mineral among collectors. Specimens from classic and extinct localities, such as Cornwall, England and Bristol, Connecticut, will command extremely high prices, especially when in good crystals.
|
120 |
CHAROITE |
Silicates |
Lilac to violet, in various shades |
2.54 - 2.78 |
1.55 - 1.59 |
Translucent to opaque |
Rare |
Russia |
Phosphorus, Calcium, and Sodium |
Charoite is a rare silicate mineral with a very complex chemical composition of phosphorus, calcium, and sodium. It's considered to be a relatively new gemstone, |
121 |
CHIASTOLITE |
Silicate |
Reddish brown, olive green, white to gray
|
6.5 - 7 |
3.17 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
United States, South Africa, Australia, France |
Aluminum silicate
|
A variety of Andalusite
Crystals of Andalusite containg cross-shaped inclusions of carbon. Common in some metamorphic rocks. |
122 |
CHLORITE |
Chlorite |
Colorless, light to dark green, gray-green, black |
2 - 2½ |
2.6 - 3.3 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
India, Cuba, Japan,
Morocco, Namibia, Mongolia, Mexico, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria |
Chlorate |
The chlorites are a group of phyllosilicate minerals. Chlorites can be described by the following four endmembers based on their chemistry via substitution of the following four elements in the silicate lattice; Mg, Fe, Ni, and Mn. |
123 |
CHROME DIOPSIDE |
Diopside |
Colorless, Yellowish To Yellow, Brown, Black, Blue, Green Or Red, Pink, Champagne-Tan, Cognac-Brown, Lilac |
6½ |
3.22 - 3.38 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
China, Myanmar, India, Madagascar, South Africa, Tanzania, Russia, Finland, Italy, Austria
|
Calcium magnesium silicate |
Diopside variety with strong emerald-green color |
124 |
CHROMITE |
Spinel |
Black, brown, dark grey |
5½ |
4.5 - 4.8 |
Opaque |
Common |
Albania, Cyprus,
Ethiopia, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Libya, New Caledonia, Oman, Russia |
Iron Chromium Oxide |
Chromite is also used as a refractory material, because it has a high heat stability.The only ore of chromium is the mineral chromite. |
125 |
CHROMIUM |
Metal |
White, grey, silver |
9 |
7.19 |
Opaque |
Common |
Australia, China,
Japan, Russia |
Chromium |
Chromium was regarded with great interest because of its high corrosion resistance and hardness. A major development was the discovery that steel could be made highly resistant to corrosion and discoloration by adding chromium and nickel to form stainless steel. |
126 |
CHRYSANTHEMUM |
Aragonite |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It is an ornamental stone displaying chrysanthemum-like patterns in a contrasting matrix. Marketed specimens are often highlighted by selective painting of the matrix with a dye to over-emphasise the crystal pattern, which in the process obliterates some of it.
|
127 |
CHRYSOBERYL |
Chrysoberyl |
Golden-yellow, green-yellow, green, brown,
red |
8½ |
3.70 - 3.78 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Brazil, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Russia |
Beryllium Aluminate |
Chrysoberyl has been known since antiquity; the varieties alexandrite and chrysoberly cat's eye are especially valued. |
128 |
CHRYSOCOLLA |
Chrysocolla |
Green, blue |
2 - 4 |
2.00 - 2.40 |
Opaque |
Common |
Chile, Israel,
Mexico, Peru, Russia, the United States (Nevada) and Zaire |
Hydrated Copper Silicate |
Chrysocolla is a sharply colored mineral. Its color can be among the brightest shades of blue and green, and is caused by its copper content. Chrysocolla is often coated by a drusy layer of glossy clear Quartz or intergrown together with the Quartz. |
129 |
CHRYSOCOLLA W/ MALACHITE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Chrysocolla and Malachite |
130 |
CHRYSOPRASE |
Chalcedony |
Green, apple-green |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.64 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Australia, Brazil,
India, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Russia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tanzania |
Silicon Dioxide |
Chrysoprase is considered the most valuable stone in the chalcedony group. The coloring agent is nickel. |
131 |
CHRYSOTILE |
Serpentine |
Light green, dark green |
2½-3 |
2.53 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Cuba, Ethiopia,
Germany, Greenland, Morocco, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia |
Hydrous magnesium silicate |
An industrial mineral widely used for thermal or electrical insulation. |
132 |
CINNABAR |
Sulfide mineral |
Red, pink |
2 - 2½ |
8.176 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Chile, Georgia,
Germany, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Peru, Slovakia |
Mercury sulfide |
Most important ore of mercury, as the native element is very rare. It was used in the past as the mineral pigment known as vermillion. |
133 |
CIRNOID FOSSIL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please check fossil. |
134 |
CITRINE |
Quartz |
Light yellow, orange |
7 |
2.65 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Brazil, Madagascar,
United States, Argentina, Myanmar, Namibia |
Silicon Dioxide |
The name is derived from its lemon-yellow color. Most commercial citrines are heated-treated amethysts. Almost all heat-treated citrines have a red tint. The natural citrines are mostly pale yellow. |
135 |
CLAMSHELL FOSSIL |
Mollusca |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
136 |
CLINOCHLORE |
Chlorite |
Green, Red, Brown, Yellow |
2 - 2.5 |
2.6 - 3 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
USA, Austria, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Switzerland |
Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxide |
Clinochlore is one of the more common members of the Chlorite Group of minerals. These minerals are all difficult to differentiate by ordinary means and often the general mineral name chlorite is given to specimens that lack distinguishing characterics. |
137 |
COAL |
Carbon |
Black |
3 |
1.1-1.4 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Peru, Sweden, Spain,
Turkey, Switzerland, Switzerland, Ukraine, USA |
Mainly Carbon (Mixed) |
A sedimentary rock of organic origin consisting predominantly of carbonised plant remains. |
138 |
COBALT |
Metal |
Metallic grey |
5.0 |
8.9 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Russia |
Cobalt |
Cobalt is a bluish-gray, shiny, brittle metallic element. Its atomic number is 27 and its symbol is Co. It has magnetic properties like iron. |
139 |
COBALT W/ CALCITE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Cobaltocalcite |
140 |
COBALTITE |
Sulfosalt mineral |
Red-silver white, violet steel grey, or black |
5½ |
6.33 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Botswana, Bulgaria,
Hungary, North Korea, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe |
Cobalt arsenic sulfide |
Cobaltite although rare is still an important and valuable ore of cobalt, a strategically and industrially useful metal. |
141 |
COBALTOCALCITE |
Calcite |
Colorless, white, grey, yellow, green |
3 |
2.71 |
Translucent |
Uncommon |
Spain |
Cobalt Carbonate |
Cobaltocalcite refers to an intermediary mineral between Calcite and Sphaerocobaltite in a solid solution series. It is generally looked at as a cobalt-rich variety of Calcite, but can also be looked as a calcium-rich variety of Sphaerocobaltite. |
142 |
COLE (See Colemanite) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Colemanite |
143 |
COLEMANITE |
Inoborates |
Colorless, white, yellow, grey, colorless |
4½ |
2.423 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Serbia, Turkey,
USA, Greece, Kazakhstan |
Hydrated calcium borate |
Colemanite forms small but richly faceted crystals. The short prismatic habit is typical and good crystals with complicated faces are sought after by collectors. |
144 |
COLORED GEMSTONES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Colored gemstones are pieces of minerals, which, in cut and polished form, are used to make/decorate jewelry or other adornments. |
145 |
COLUMBITE |
Oxide minerals |
Black, brown-black |
6 |
5.04 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Equatorial Guinea,
Finland, Ghana, Mozambique, Niger, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Uganda |
Iron manganese niobium tantalum oxides |
Columbite, also called niobite, is a black mineral group that is an ore of niobium. It has a submetallic luster and a high density and is a niobate of iron and manganese. |
146 |
CONDOR AGATE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Agate |
147 |
CONGLOMERATE STONE |
Sedimentary |
Light brown, grey yellow |
2.5 |
1.7 - 2.3 |
Opaque |
Common |
Various Places |
Heterogeneous Mixture |
A conglomerate is a rock consisting of individual clasts within a finer-grained matrix that have become cemented together. Conglomerates are sedimentary rocks consisting of rounded fragments. |
148 |
CONGLOMERATE JASPER |
Chalcedony |
Red, yellow, brown, green, blue |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.91 |
Opaque |
Common |
Egypt, Australia,
Brazil, India, Canada, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Russia |
Silicon Dioxide |
The appeal of Jasper is its interesting color patterns and formations. Though it can be a solid color, it is most often mottled, spotted, ringed, or striped. Each Jasper has a unique color or pattern, lending this gemstone much variety. Jasper is an opaque form of Chalcedony. |
149 |
COPAL |
Organic Amber |
Yellow, white, red, green, blue, brown, black |
2 - 3 |
1.05 - 1.09 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Austria, Madagascar, New Zealand, UK |
Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen |
Copal is a solidified, volatile, rich plant resin, that can be colorless, yellow, brown or rarely reddish. It is a relatively recent fossil resin, which may have only tens or hundreds of years unlike Amber (millions years).
Copal is frequently used as an imitation of Amber. |
150 |
COPPER |
Copper |
Copper-red |
2½ - 3 |
8.94 - 8.95 |
Opaque |
Common |
Costa Rica, Cuba,
Denmark, Eritrea, Germany, Guatemala, Israel, Jamaica, Laos, Mongolia |
Copper Sulfide |
Pure copper is rather soft and malleable and a freshly-exposed surface has a pinkish or peachy color. Gold, caesium and copper are the only metallic elements with a natural color other than gray or white. |
151 |
COPPER ORE |
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Please see Copper |
152 |
COPPER W/ ROCK |
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Please see Copper |
153 |
COPPER FIREBRICK |
Copper |
Copper-red |
2½ - 3 |
8.94 - 8.95 |
Opaque |
Common |
Costa Rica, Cuba,
Denmark, Eritrea, Germany, Guatemala, Israel, Jamaica, Laos, Mongolia |
Copper Sulfide |
Pure copper is rather soft and malleable and a freshly-exposed surface has a pinkish or peachy color. Gold, caesium and copper are the only metallic elements with a natural color other than gray or white. |
154 |
COPROLITE |
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155 |
CORAL |
Organic Amber Coral |
Red, pink, white, black, blue |
3 - 4 |
2.60 - 2.70 |
Opaque |
Common |
Western Mediterranean countries,
the Red sea, bay of Biscay, Canary Island, Japan |
Naturally Occuring |
Most corals have built reef and atolls with their branching trunks. Unworked coral is dull when polished it has vitreous luster. It is polished with fine-grained sandstone and is used for beads for necklaces/bracelets. |
156 |
CORDIERITE SUNSTONE |
Silicate |
Grey, blue, blue-violet, green, yellow brown, colorless |
7 - 7½ |
2.6 - 2.66 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Myanmar, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Sri lank and United States |
Magnesium Aluminum Slicate |
The name is drived from its lemon-yellow color. Most commercial citrines are heate-treated amethysts. Almost all heat-treated citrines have a red tint. The natural citrines are mostly pale yellow. |
157 |
CORINDON |
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158 |
CORN SHELL |
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See Shell |
159 |
CORNELIAN AGATE |
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Please see Cornelian (Carnelian) and Agate |
160 |
CORUNDUM |
Corundum |
Colorless, blue, red, pink, yellow, grey, golden-brown |
9 |
3.98 - 4.1 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Bulgaria, Burma ,
Finland, India, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar |
Aluminum Oxide |
Corundum is a crystalline form of Aluminum. It is one of the naturally clear transparent materials, but can have different colors when impurities are present. |
161 |
COVELLITE |
Sulfide mineral |
Indigo blue, light blue, dark blue, black |
1.5 - 2 |
4.6 - 4.8 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Mt Vesuvius, Somma-Vesuvius Complex, Naples Province, Campania, Italy |
Copper Sulfide |
Covellite is a rare copper sulfide mineral. This indigo blue mineral is ubiquitous in copper ores, it is found in limited abundance and is not an important ore of copper itself. It has a large amount of Graphite in it. |
162 |
CREEDITE |
Monoclinic |
white, violet, colourless |
4 |
2.71 |
Transparent |
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Colorado, USA |
calcium aluminium sulfate fluoro hydroxide mineral |
Creedite is a rare hydroxylhalide mineral. Creedite usually forms from the oxidation of fluorite ore deposits.
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163 |
CROCIDOLITE |
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164 |
CRYSTAL |
Quartz |
Colorless to Pink, white, grey, yellow, brown, golden brown |
7 |
2.65 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Brazil, Madagascar,
India, Mozambique, Namibia, Sri Lank and United States. |
Silicon Dioxide |
A crystal or crystalline solid is a solid material whose constituent atoms, molecules, or ions are arranged in an orderly repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. |
165 |
CSARITE |
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166 |
CUPRITE |
Cuprite |
Brown red, purple red, red, black |
3½ - 4 |
6.14 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Belgium, Bolivia,
Bulgaria, Cuba, Hungary, Jordan, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden |
Oxide of Copper |
Cuprite has been a major ore of copper and is still mined in many places around the world. Of all the copper ores except for native copper, cuprite gives the greatest yield of copper per molecule |
167 |
CUPRITE W/ CHRYSOCOLLA |
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Please see Cuperite and Chrysocolla |
168 |
CUPROSKLODOWSKITE |
uranium |
Grass green, Green yellow, Light green. |
4 |
3.8 |
Transparent to Translucent |
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Katanga province, Belgian Congo |
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Cuprosklodowskite is a nesosilicate mineral, It is grass green to dark green in color, and its crystal habit is typically acicular, flat bladed crystals. It is a strongly radioactive mineral. |
169 |
CYLINDRITE |
Triclinic |
Lead gray, Grayish black. |
2.5 |
5.4 - 5.42 |
Opaque |
Common |
Poopo, in Oruro, Boliva |
Sulfosalt minerals |
Cylindrite Group from the Greek ?????d??s, a roll, in allusion to the typical cylindrical habit of the mineral.There is a relation between the cylindrical morphology and crystal structure. The latter is composite and characterizes in incommensurate modulations. |
170 |
DANBURITE |
Tectosilicates |
Clear or white, shades of yellow and pink |
7 - 7.5 |
3 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
USA, Mexico, Japan, Switzerland |
Calcium boron silicate |
Danburite is a commonly occurring mineral; large and facetable gemstone quality material is considered especially rare. Today, it is one of the lesser-known gemstones and is primarily classified as a collector's gem. |
171 |
DATOLITE |
Datolite |
White, colorless, yellowish, reddish, gray, brown |
5 - 5.5 |
2.8 - 3 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Norway |
Calcium Boron Silicate Hydroxide |
Datolite is a popular mineral among mineral collectors although it is somewhat obscure. It is often found in basalt vesicles with calcite and zeolites. In fact, it is often confused with certain zeolites because of its luster, color and associations. |
172 |
DENDRITE |
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It is design, adjective and descriptive term. |
173 |
DENDRITE OPAL |
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Please see Opal |
174 |
DENDRITIC AGATE |
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Please see Agate |
175 |
DENDRITIC PYROLUSITE |
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Please see Pyrolusite |
176 |
DESMINE (Stilbite) |
Zeolite |
Colorless, white, pink |
3½ - 4 |
2.18 - 2.2 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Bosnia &
Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria |
Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminum Silicate |
Desmine is synonym of Stilbite. |
177 |
DIAMOND |
Diamond |
Colorless, yellow, brown, black, blue, green, red, pink, champagne-tan, lilac |
10 |
3.5 - 3.53 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
worldwide, especially in Angola, Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Brazil, Congo, Russia, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe
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Carbon |
The name diamond refers to hardness. It has been recognised with various types of diamond with different characteristics. Due to the optical effects, the high hardness and its rarity, the diamondis considered the king of gemstones. |
178 |
DIASPORE |
Diaspore |
White, green-grey, grey-brown, yellow, colorless |
6.5 - 7 |
3.3 - 3.5 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Russia, Worldwide |
Hydroxyy Aluminum Oxide |
Diaspore is one of the three component minerals of the economically important aluminum ore Bauxite. |
179 |
DICKITE |
Phyllosilicates |
Blue, Colorless, Gray, Yellow brown, White |
1.5 - 2 |
2.6 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
United States, Jamaica, Mexico |
Phyllosilicates Clay |
Dickite is chemically composed of 20.90% aluminium, 21.76% silicon, 1.56% hydrogen and 55.78% oxygen. It has the same composition as kaolinite, nacrite, and halloysite, but with a different crystal structure (polymorph). Dickite sometimes contains impurities such as titanium, iron, magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium. |
180 |
DIESEL |
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Diesel or diesel fuel in general is any fuel used in diesel engines. The most common is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but alternatives that are not derived from petroleum. |
181 |
DINOSAUR EGG |
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It’s a fossilized conversion of a Dinosaur Egg. Once it is hardened, it becomes a stone or mineral. Can be carved. |
182 |
DIOPSIDE |
Diopside |
Light to dark green, blue, brown, snow white, grey, colorless |
5½ - 6½ |
3.22 - 3.38 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Myanmar, Finland, India, Madagascar, Austria, Sri Lanka, South Africa |
Calcium Magnesium Silicate |
Named (Greek-double appearance) because of its crystal shape. Diopside is an important rock forming mineral in several metamorphic and basic to ultra-basic igneous rocks, also found in meteorites. |
183 |
DIOPTASE |
Dioptase |
Emerald green, blue-green |
5 |
3.28 - 3.35 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Chile, Kyrgyzstan,
Namibia, Peru, Russia, United States, Zaire |
Hydroxyy Silicate of Copper |
Dioptase is popular with mineral collectors and it is occasionally cut into small emerald-like gems. Dioptase and chrysocolla are the only relatively common copper silicate minerals. |
184 |
DIORITE |
Plutonic |
Black and white |
2.8 - 3 |
2.72 - 2.99 |
Opaque |
Common |
Italy, Germany, Finaland, Romania, New Zealand, USA, Egypt |
Silicon Dioxide |
A group of plutonic rocks intermediate in composition between acidic and basic, characteristically composed of dark-colored amphibole, pyroxene, and sometimes a small amount of quartz; also, any rock in that group; the approximate intrusive equivalent of andesite. |
185 |
DOLOMITE |
Dolomite |
Colorless, white, grey, red-white, brown-white, pink, colorless |
3½ - 4 |
2.84 - 2.86 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Angola, Antarctica,
Armenia, Bahamas, Greece, Mozambique |
Calcium Magnesium Carbonate |
Dolomite is used as an ornamental stone, a concrete aggregate, a source of magnesium oxide and in the Pigeon process for the production of magnesium. |
186 |
DOMEYKITE |
Arsenide mineral |
Tin-white to steel-gray |
3 - 3.5 |
7.2 - 8.1 |
Opaque |
Common |
USA, Canada |
Copper Arsenide |
Domeykite is a semi-metal alloy of copper and arsenic. It is found at several copper mines in Chile and is named for a nineteenth century Chilean mineralogist named Ignacio Domeyko. Alloys are usually placed in the Elements Class. |
187 |
DRAGON STONE |
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Another name for Serpentine. See Serpentine. |
188 |
DRAVITE |
Tourmaline |
Pale to dark brown, dark yellow |
7 |
3.03 - 3.18 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Finland, India, Kenya,
Nepal, North Korea, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Zambia |
Crystal Boron Silicate |
Dravite is a brown variety of tourmaline. It is an ideal stone for self-healing, aids in finding emotional strength and self-acceptance. Dravite inspires courage and persistence. |
189 |
DRUZY SPECTROPYRITE |
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Please see pyrite. |
190 |
DRUZY QUARTZ |
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191 |
DUMORTIERITE |
Dumortierite |
Blue, brown, violet, green blue, pink |
7 |
3.3 - 3.4 |
Opaque |
Common |
USA, France |
Borosilicate of Aluminum and iron oxide |
Dumortierite is a fibrous variably colored aluminum boro-silicate mineral. It is used in the manufacture of high grade porcelain. It is sometimes mistaken for Sodalite and has been used as imitation lapis lazuli. |
192 |
ECLOGITE |
Plutonic |
Red, pale green |
5 to 6 |
3.29 - 3.39 |
Opaque |
Common |
Greenland, Scotland, Italy, USA, Australia |
Plagioclase feldspar, pyroxene, olivine, magnetite, and ilmenite |
Eclogite is a dense, green plutonic rock composed of coarse grains of green, sodium-rich pyroxene and pale pink, magnesium rich garnet; Kyanite and rutile are also common. Chemically, an eclogite is equivalent to basalt. |
193 |
ECLOGITE W/ GLAUCOPHANE |
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Please see Ecolgite and Glaucophane |
194 |
ELBAITE |
Tourmaline |
Green, red to pink, blue, orange, yellow, colorless, multicolored |
7.5 |
2.9 - 3.2 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Common |
Afghanistan, Austria, Canada, Brazil, Czech Republic, Italy, Madagascar |
Sodium Lithium Aluminum Boro-Silicate Hydroxyide |
Elbaite is a desirable member of the tourmaline group because of the variety and depth of its colours and quality of the crystals. |
195 |
ELDARITE |
Fossil/Volcanic Rock |
Dark Green to Black |
6.5 - 7 |
2.56 |
Opaque |
Common |
China, Mexico, Africa |
Silicon Dioxide |
Eldarite is certainly an unusual and handsome lapidary material. It is not mined by blasting, so it has few cracks or stresses that can affect specimens as they are worked. |
196 |
ELECTRICITY |
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Electricity is a broad term encompassing the family of phenomenon arising from interaction between charged particles. Of the four fundamental forces of nature, the electromagnetic force is the most influential in our everyday lives. |
197 |
ELMWOOD FLUORITE |
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Please see Fluorite. Fluorite mined from Elmwood mines. |
198 |
EMERALD |
Beryl |
Green shades, colorless |
7 1/2 - 8 |
2.67 - 2.78 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Afghanistan,
Australia, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Egypt, Ethiopia |
Beryllium Aluminum Silicate |
The name emerald derives from Greek 'smaragdos'. It means ' green stone'. The physical properties, especially the density, refractive index and refraction |
199 |
ENARGITE |
sulfides |
Steel gray, Blackish gray, Violet black. |
3 |
4.4 - 4.5 |
Opaque |
Common |
Butte, Montana, USA |
copper arsenic sulfosalt |
Enargite is a sulfosalt mineral that is an import ore of copper. Crystals are sometimes coated with a thin layer of Pyrite crystals, giving it a yellow appearance. Enargite is dimorphous with the mineral Luzonite, which forms in tetragonal crystals. |
200 |
EPHESITE |
Mica |
Brownish pink, Pearl gray, Pale green |
3.5-4.5 |
2.98 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Ephesus, Turkey |
phyllosilicate |
Ephesite found in its natural state is translucent and pink in color. It has a vitreous luster and pearly on the cleavages. |
201 |
EPIDOTE |
Epidote |
Green, black-brown |
6 - 7 |
3.3 - 3.5 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Brazil, Kenya, Mexico,
Mozambique, Norway |
Hydroxy Silicate of calcium, aluminum and iron |
Epidote is a calcium aluminum iron sorosilicate mineral. Epidote is an abundant rock-forming mineral, but one of secondary origin. It occurs in marble and schistose rocks of metamorphic origin. |
202 |
EPIDOTE IN CRYSTAL |
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Please see Epidote and Crystal |
203 |
EPIDOTE W/ JASPER |
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Please see Epidote and Jasper |
204 |
EPISTILBITE |
Zeolite |
White, Pink and Red |
4 - 4.5 |
2.2 - 2.3 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
India, Iceland, Italy, Hawaii |
Calcium Sodium Aluminium Silicate Hydroxide |
Epistilbite is a rare member of the zeolite group. It has a very similar chemical makeup to Stilbite, and can be difficult to distinguish from Stilbite. Epistilbite is not dimorphous with Stilbite, |
205 |
ERYTHRITE |
Vivianite |
Red, lavender-blue |
1.5 - 2.5 |
3.07 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Germany, France,
USA, Iran, Morocco. |
Hydrous Cobalt Arsenate |
An arsenate mineral. Nickel substitutes iso-morphically for cobalt; admixtures of zinc, magnesium, and iron are also observed. It is encountered primarily in the form of crusts, concretions, and earthy aggregates. |
206 |
ESCOLCITE |
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207 |
EUCLASE |
Euclase |
Colorless, sea-green,
light blue, dark blue |
7½ |
3.1 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Brazil, Russia,
Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zaire |
Hydroxyy silicate of beryllium and alluminum |
Euclase crystals are noted for their blue color, ranging from very pale to dark blue. The mineral may also be colorless, white, or light green. Euclase is difficult to cut and polish because of its perfect cleavage. |
208 |
EUDIALYTE |
Silicate |
Pink-red, yellow-brown, Violet |
5.0 - 6 |
2.74 - 3.10 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Julianehaab district of Greenland |
Sodium Calcium Cerium Iron Manganese Zirconium Silicate Hydroxyide Chloride |
Eudialyte is a somewhat rare, red silicate mineral, which forms in alkaline igneous rocks, such as nepheline syenites. Its name alludes to its ready solubility in acid. |
209 |
EUXENITE |
Oxide minerals |
Black, green, brown |
5½ - 6½ |
5.3 - 5.9 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Norway, Russia, Sweden, Brazil, US |
Yttrium Calcium Erbium Lanthanum Cerium Uranium Thorium Niobium Tantalum Titanium Oxide |
Euxenite is used as an ore of the rare earth elements it contains. Rare large crystals have also been used in jewelry |
210 |
FACTORY / INDUSTRY |
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The aggregate of manufacturing or technically productive enterprises in a particular field, often named after its principal product, in this case gemstones and minerals |
211 |
FAIRY STONE |
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212 |
FELDSPAR |
Feldspar |
White, grey, blue, green, red |
6 - 6.5 |
2.6 - 2.65 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Common |
US, Brazil, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Russia |
Potassium Aluminum Silicate |
Feldspar is a common raw material in the production of ceramics and geopolymers. Feldspars are used for thermo luminescence dating and optical dating in earth sciences and archaeology |
213 |
FERBERITE |
Wolframite |
Black, dark brown, metallic grey |
4 - 4½ |
7.58 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Greenland, Hungary,
India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Peru, Romania, Rwanda, Thailand |
Iron Manganese Tungstates |
Ferberite tends to be black colored, with a black streak, is opaque with a nearly submetallic luster, is denser, has crystals with a different elongation and can be weakly magnetic. |
214 |
FERROMETEORITE (IRON METEORITE) |
Silicate minerals Asteroids |
Metallic grey, light and dark brown, |
4.5 |
3.21-3.40 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Worldwide |
Iron Oxide |
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives an impact with the Earth's surface. While in space it is called a meteoroid. |
215 |
FILIGREE |
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Filigree is a delicate kind of jewellery metalwork, usually of gold and silver, made with tiny beads or twisted threads, or both in combination, soldered together or to the surface of an object of the same metal and arranged in artistic motifs. |
216 |
FIRE OPAL |
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Please see Opal |
217 |
FLINTSTONE |
Sedimentary |
Dark grey, black, green, white, brown |
7 |
2.9 - 5.9 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Worldwide |
Silicon Dioxide |
Technically a rock, not a mineral, being composed largely of tiny grains of quartz or chalcedony. It is usually rather pure, with few other minerals involved, often dark. |
218 |
FLUORAPORHYLLITE |
Silicates |
Colorless, white, gray, green, brown. Rarely pink, purple, red, or orange |
4.5 - 5 |
2.3 - 2.4 |
Transparent to translucent
|
Common |
India, USA, South Africa |
Hydrous calcium potassium fluoro-hydroxyl-silicate |
Fluorapophyllite can be a beautiful mineral, forming in lustrous, transparent crystals that are well-formed and occasionally very large. Though it is found worldwide in volcanic zeolite environments,
|
219 |
FLUORESCENT STONE |
Fluorite |
Varies |
4 - 7 |
Varies |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Worldwide |
Calcium Fluoride |
The minerals in some types of stone have properties which cause them, under certain conditions, to glow or fluoresce. This property can sometimes be beneficial. When searching for the minerals using ultraviolet light these stones will stand out from the other rocks. |
220 |
FLUORITE |
Fluorite |
Purple, blue, green, yellow, colorless, brown, pink, black, red-orange |
4 |
3.00 - 3.25 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Very Common |
Germany,
Argentina, Burma, England, France, Namibia |
Calcium Fluoride |
Fluorite is a very popular mineral, and it naturally occurs in all colors of the spectrum. It is one of the most varied colored minerals in the mineral kingdom, and the colors may be very intense and almost electric. Blue John is also a very popular form of Fluorite. |
221 |
FLUORITE W/ CHALCOPYRITE |
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Please see Fluorite and Chalcopyrite |
222 |
FLUORITE W/ PYRITE |
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Please see Fluorite and Pyrite |
223 |
FORSTERITE |
Olivine |
Colorless, Green, Yellow, Yellow green, White |
6-7 |
3.21 - 3.33 |
Transparent |
Common |
Somma, Vesuvius, Italy |
Magnesium silicate |
Forsterite is associated with igneous and metamorphic rocks and has also been found in meteorites. |
224 |
FOSSIL |
Organic Amber |
Black, brown, grey, white |
Varies |
Varies |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA, Antarctica, Australia, Libya, Saudi Arabia |
Varies |
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the remote past. |
225 |
FOSSIL CORAL |
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Please see coral |
226 |
FUCHSITE |
Fuchsite |
White, grey, silver |
2 – 2.25 |
2.76 - 3 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
India (Nellore) |
Potassium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxyide Fluoride |
Fuchsite is the most common mica, found in granites, pegmatite’s, gneisses, and schist’s, and as a contact metamorphic rock or as a secondary mineral resulting from the alteration of topaz, feldspar, kyanite, etc. |
227 |
FUCHSITE W/ KYANITE |
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Please see Fuchsite and Kyanite |
228 |
GADOLINITE |
Nesosilicate |
Brown, Green, Green black, Light green, Black |
6.5 - 7 |
4 - 4.5 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Rare |
Sweden, Norwary, Austria, China |
Yttrium |
Gadolinite-(Y) is a somewhat rare mineral, but does come in some attractive crystals that collectors desire. It forms prismatic, nearly diamond-shaped cross-sectioned crystals, usually with a green color and a nice luster. |
229 |
GAGATE |
Fossil |
Jet Black, metallic dark brown. |
2.5 – 4 |
1.30 – 1.35 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Egypt, Rome, Greece, Serbia |
Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen |
Gagate is a carbon fossil, compact and very light. It is a lustrous black stone. Another name for Gagate is Black Amber or Jet. |
230 |
GILLA MONSTER |
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231 |
GALENA |
Galena |
Lead-grey |
2½ |
7.57 |
Opaque |
Common |
Angola, Belgium, Bolivia,
Morocco, Denmark |
Lead sulfide |
One of the earliest uses of galena was as kohl, which in Ancient Egypt, was applied around the eyes to reduce the glare of the desert sun and to repel flies, which were a potential source of disease. |
232 |
GALLITE |
Igenous Rock |
Grey |
3 - 3.5 |
4.1 - 4.3 |
Opaque |
Common |
Bulgaria, Nambia, Cuba |
Copper iron sulfide |
A tetragonal-scalenohedral gray mineral containing copper, gallium, and sulfur. |
233 |
GARCIT AGATE |
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Please see Agate |
234 |
GARNET |
Garnet Grossular |
Wine red, red-brown, yellow, green, black |
6½ - 7½ |
4.2 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
India, USA, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Africa |
Calcium Aluminum Silicate |
Garnet sand is a good abrasive and a common replacement for silica sand in sand blasting. Mixed with very high pressure water, garnet is used to cut steel and other materials in water jets. Pure crystals of garnet are used as gemstones. |
235 |
GARNET IN QUARTZ |
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Please see Garnet and Quartz |
236 |
GARNIERITE |
Serpentine |
Apple green, light brown |
2½-3 |
2.3 |
Translucent |
Common |
Brazil, Dominican
Republic, Japan, New Caledonia, Turkey |
Hydrous Nickel Magnesium Silicate |
Garnierite is a general name for a green nickel ore which is found in pockets and veins within weathered and serpentinized ultramafic rocks. |
237 |
GARTRELLITE |
Tsumcorite |
Greenish yellow |
4.5 |
5.4 |
Transparent |
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Western Australia, Australia |
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238 |
GETCHELLITE |
Sulfide mineral |
Blood red, dark red, purple red |
1½ - 2 |
3.92 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
USA, Japan, Azerbaijan |
Arsenic And Antimony Sulfides |
Getchellite is a rare sulfide of arsenic and antimony. |
239 |
GLASS |
Natural Glass |
Dark Red, Dark Red, Sometimes With A Purple To Green Iridescent Tarnish |
5 - 6½ |
2.6 |
Transparent |
Very Common |
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Usa, Japan, Azerbaijan |
Fused Silicon Dioxide |
Glass is an amorphous (non-crystalline) solid material that exhibits a glass transition, which is the reversible transition in amorphous materials (or in amorphous regions within semi crystalline materials) from a hard and relatively brittle state into a molten or rubber-like state. |
240 |
GLAUCOPHANE |
Amphibolite |
Gray, blue-black, lavender blue |
6 - 6.5 |
3 - 3.2 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Common Worldwide |
Sodium Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxyide |
Glaucophane is a common amphibole mineral, a sodium, magnesium, and aluminum silicate that occur only in crystalline schist’s formed from sodium-rich rocks by low-grade metamorphism characteristic of subduction zones. |
241 |
GOETHITE |
Iron oxide |
Yellow, red to dark brown |
5 - 5.5 |
3.3 - 4.3 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA, Czech Republic, Germany, South America, Italy, UK |
Hydrated Iron Oxide |
Goethite named after the German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832), is an iron bearing oxide mineral found in soil and other low-temperature environments. |
242 |
GOGUNJULA |
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243 |
GOLD |
Copper |
Metallic golden, Brass
yellow, bright golden |
2½ - 3 |
15 - 19.3 |
Opaque |
Common |
South Africa, Brazil, Russia, USA |
Gold |
Gold is a chemical element. It is a highly sought-after precious metal in jewelry, in sculpture, and for ornamentation since the beginning of recorded history. |
244 |
GOLDSTONE |
|
Reddish brown |
5.5 |
2.5 - 2.8 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Worldwide |
Copper Oxide |
Goldstone is man made. Some speculate it was discovered by accident when alchemists were trying to create man made gold. Goldstone is created of brown glass with copper oxide added. |
245 |
GOOSECREEKITE |
Zeolite |
White, Pink and Red |
4.5 |
2.21 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
India, USA |
Calcium Aluminium Silicate Hydroxide |
Goosecreekite is one of the rarer zeolites and one of the most usually named minerals in the world. It forms irregular aggregates and prismatic crystals that are found in the vesicles or bubbles of volcanic rock as are most other zeolites. |
246 |
GOSHENITE |
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Colorless, White |
7.5 - 8 |
2.8 |
Transparent to translucent |
Common |
Brazil, China, Canada, Mexico, Russia, Northern Europe, East Africa, South Africa, Asia and Colombia |
|
goshenite
The name for this gemstone derives from Goshen Massachusetts, which was one of the first areas to discover the gem. Today it can be found in several countries, but most are mined in Brazil, America and Canada. |
247 |
GRANDIDIERITE |
Nesosilicate |
Bluish green |
7½ |
2.96 |
Transparent, Translucent |
uncommon |
|
|
Grandidierite is an extremely rare mineral and gem that was first discovered in 1902 in southern Madagascar. The mineral was named in honor of French explorer Alfred Grandidier (1836–1912) who studied the natural history of Madagascar. |
248 |
GRANITE |
Feldspar |
Pink, grey, varies |
5-7 |
2.65 - 2.75 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Common Worldwide |
Igneous Rock |
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite has a medium to coarse texture, occasionally with some individual crystals larger than the groundmass forming a rock known as porphyry. |
249 |
GREEN BERYL |
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Please see Beryl |
250 |
GREEN QUARTZ |
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Please see Quartz |
251 |
GREENALITE |
Kaolinite-Serpentine |
Bright green, pale green, brown |
2.5 |
2.85-3.15 |
Opaque |
Common |
Australia, Canada, China, Germany, USA, Worldwide |
Hydroxyy Silicate of Magnesium with Clay |
Greenalite was first described in 1903 for an occurrence in the Mesabi Range near Biwabik, St. Louis County, Minnesota and named for its green color. It occurs as a primary phase in banded iron formations.
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252 |
GREENSTONE |
chlorite, |
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Greenstone is a common generic term for valuable, green-hued minerals and metamorphosed igneous rocks and stones which early cultures used in the fashioning of hardstone carvings such as jewelry, statuettes, ritual tools, and various other artifacts. |
253 |
GREEN SWISS OPAL |
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Please see Opal |
254 |
GROSSULAR |
Garnet Grossular/ Intermediate varieties |
Colorless, green, yellow, brown |
6½ - 7 |
3.57 - 3.73 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Canada, Kenya,
Mali, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania, United States (Vermont) |
Calcium Aluminum Silicate |
Grossular (also known as grossularite), like other garnets, forms rounded crystals with 12 rhombic or 24 trapezoidal faces or combinations of these and some other forms. This crystal habit is classic for the garnet minerals. |
255 |
GROSSULAR GARNET |
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See Grossular and Garnet |
256 |
GUNMETAL |
Bronze Metal |
Dark grey |
4 - 4.5 |
8.7 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA |
Copper, Tin, Lead Zinc |
Gunmetal was originally used chiefly for making guns, and was eventually superseded by steel. Gunmetal casts and machines well and is resistant to corrosion from steam and salt water and is used to make steam and hydraulic castings, valves, and gears, and also statues and various small objects. |
257 |
GYPSUM |
Gypsum |
White, yellow, pink, blue, colorless |
2 |
2.20 - 2.40 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Algeria, Angola,
USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Zimbabwe |
Hydrated Calcium Sulphate |
Gypsum is very sensitive to heat. It is rock-forming; compared to alabaster. |
258 |
GYROLITE |
Phyllosilicates |
White to Green |
3 - 4 |
2.3 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
India, Ireland, USA |
Sodium Calcium Aluminiumsilicate Hydroxide |
Gyrolite often forms nodular aggregates. These aggregates can appear glassy, dull or even fiberous. Unlike other similar looking minerals (such as prehnite or smithsonite), gyrolite usually forms individual nodules as opposed to botryoidal or crustal growths. The aggregate nodules can often accompany many fine and rare minerals such as apophyllite, okenite and many of the zeolites. Much gyrolite forms inside of volcanic bubbles called vesicles and can only add another element to the surreal "landscape" inside. |
259 |
HACKMANITE |
Sodalite |
Pale to deep violet, grayish or greenish-white |
5.5 - 6 |
1.48 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Canada, Greenland Burma, Russia, USA |
Sodium Aluminum Silicate Chloride |
Hackmanite is an important variety of sodalite exhibiting tenebrescence. When hackmanite from Quebec or Greenland is freshly quarried, it is generally pale to deep violet but the colour fades quickly to greyish or greenish whites a violet to pink-red colour in sunlight. |
260 |
HALITE |
Halide |
Colorless, white, yellow, red, purple, blue |
2½ |
2.168 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Very Common |
Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Colombia, Denmark, Jordan, Kenya, Netherlands |
Sodium Chloride |
Halite is commonly known as rock salt. Halite forms isometric crystals. The mineral is typically colorless to yellow, but may also be light blue, dark blue, and pink depending on the amount and type of impurities. |
261 |
HAUYNE |
Sodalite |
Blue, white, grey, yellow, green, pink |
5 - 6 |
2.4 - 2.9 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Canary Islands, Germany, USA, Italy |
Sodium Calcium Aluminum Silicate Sulfur Sulfate Chloride |
Hauyne, haüyne or hauynite was first described in 1807 from samples discovered in Vesuvian lavas in Monte Somma, Italy, and was named in 1807 by Brunn-Neergard for the French crystallographer René Just Haüy (1743–1822). |
262 |
HEDENBERGITE |
Metamorphic Rock |
Green to dark green, brownish-green, brown, gray, black
|
5 - 6 |
3.3 - 3.6 |
Opaque |
Common |
Italy, Sweden, Russia, Australia |
Calcium magnesium silicate |
Hedenbergite forms a series with Diopside, the magnesium equivalent of Hedenbergite, and may be partially replaced by it. Diopside and Hedenbergite can even occur together in a single crystal, with a core of Hedenbergite and outer zone of Diopside. Hedenbergite is often confused and misidentified as both Diopside and Augite.
|
263 |
HELIODOR |
Beryl |
Gold-yellow, yellow-green,
yellow, pink, colorless |
7.5 - 8 |
2.63 - 2.92 |
Transparent |
Common |
Namibia, Nigeria,
Norway, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine |
Beryllium Aluminum Sillicate |
Heliodor is a golden yellow gem variety of Beryl. |
264 |
HEMATITE |
Hematite |
Black, black-grey, brown-red |
5½ - 6½ |
5.12 - 5.28 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
England, Mexico,
Brazil, Australia, United States and Canada |
Iron Oxide |
Hematite is a mineral, colored black to steel or silver-gray, brown to reddish brown, or red. It is mined as the main ore of iron. While the forms of hematite vary, they all have a rust-red streak. Hematite is harder than pure iron, but much more brittle. |
265 |
HEMIMORPHITE |
Zinc and Lead |
White, Blue, Green |
4.5-5 |
3.5 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Siberia, Austrilia, USA, Germany |
Zinc Silicate |
Hemimorphite, is a sorosilicate mineral which has been historically mined from the upper parts of zinc and lead ores. It was often assumed to be the same mineral as smithsonite, and both were classed under the same name of calamine. |
266 |
HETEROSITE |
Orthorhombic |
Purple black, also deep rose to reddish purple |
4 - 4.5 |
3.4 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA, Germany, Finland |
Iron Phosphate |
Heterosite is a series between Heterosite and Purpurite. The species of this series are secondary minerals formed by oxidation of Triphylite and Lithiophilite through the intermediate stage of Ferrisicklerite and Sicklerite. |
267 |
HETIAN JADE |
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Jade form Hetian in Xinjiang, China. See Jade. |
268 |
HEULANDITE |
Zeolite |
Colorless, pink, red, grey, yellow, green, white |
3 - 3½ |
2.1 - 2.2 |
Transparent |
Common |
Brazil, China,
Denmark, Guam, India, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Nicaragua |
Hydrated Calcium Sodium Aluminum Silicate |
Heulandite is a white, grey, red, or brown zeolite mineral that consists essentially of hydrated calcium Aluminum silicate in the form of elongated tabular crystals. |
269 |
HIDDENITE |
Spodumene |
Yellow-green, emerald-green |
6½ - 7 |
3.15 - 3.21 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Burma, Brazil,
Madagascar and United States |
Lithium Aluminum Silicate |
Hiddenite is a pale-to-emerald green variety of spodumene that is sometimes used as a gemstone. |
270 |
HILUTITE |
Garnet Zircon Goethite Quartz |
Green, light brown |
6 - 7 |
2.65 - 4.3 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Germany, Lithuania , England, Denmark, France, Brazil or Russia |
|
Hilutite was first showcased to the world in April 2009. It is an amazing combination of the minerals Garnet, Zircon, Goethite and Quartz. |
271 |
HIMALAYAN STONE |
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272 |
HOLLANDITE |
Hollandite |
Grey-Black, Silver-Grey |
4 - 6 |
5.05 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
India, Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Slovakia, USA |
Barium manganese oxide hydrate |
A monoclinic-prismatic white mineral containing aluminum, barium, iron, lead, manganese, oxygen, silicon, and sodium. |
273 |
HORNBLENDE RUBY |
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Please see Ruby |
274 |
HORNSTONE |
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See Banded Hornstone |
275 |
HOWLITE |
Silicate |
White with gray to black streaks |
3.5 |
2.5 - 2.6 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Nova Scotia, Canada, USA, |
Calcium Boro-silicate Hydroxide |
Howlite, which is named for its discoverer Henry How (a Nova Scotia geologist), is one of those minerals that is more famous for imitating another mineral. In this case the other mineral is turquoise, a phosphate gemstone. Although howlite is always white or gray, it can accept dyes fairly easily and be dyed a turquoise blue. |
276 |
HUBNERITE |
Oxide |
Yellowish brown to reddish brown, blackish brown, black; Deep red internal reflections in reflected light |
4 - 4.5 |
7.12 - 7.18 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
China, Bolivia, USA |
Manganese Tungstate |
Huebnerite is the manganese-rich end member of the Wolframite series. It is not always distinguished individually and is sometimes just classified as Wolframite. |
277 |
IDOCRASE |
Idocrase |
Brown, yellow, brown-black, light green, blue-green white, red, violet |
6.5 |
3.32 - 3.43 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Italy |
Complex Calcium Aluminum Silicate |
Vesuvianite, also known as Idocrase, is a green, brown, yellow, or blue silicate mineral. Vesuvianite occurs as tetragonal crystals in skarn deposits and limestones that have been subjected to contact metamorphism. |
278 |
IKRANITA |
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Please check granite. |
279 |
ILMENITE |
Ilmenite |
Black, dark grayish-black, brownish-black, dark reddish-brown |
5-6 |
4.68 - 4.76 |
Opaque |
Common |
Southern Urals, Urals Region, Russia |
Iron titanium oxide |
Ilmenite is one of the most significant ores of the metal titanium. It is mined as an important industrial mineral in several deposits throughout the world. Many of those deposits are in heavy placer sands. Ilmenite is very similar in structure to Hematite, |
280 |
IMPERIAL TOPAZ |
Topaz |
Golden yellow |
8 |
3.49 - 3.57 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Germany, Norway,
Pakistan, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Brazil |
Hydroxyy silicate of Aluminum with fluorite and iron |
Imperial topaz is yellow, pink(rare, if natural) to slightly pinkish-orange to reddish-orange. Some imperial topaz can fade on exposure to sunlight for an extended period of time. |
281 |
INDICOLITE - TOURMALINE |
Tourmaline |
Green, red-pink, blue, orange, yellow, colorless |
7 |
2.98 - 3.2 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Brazil, Austria,
France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mexico |
Sodium Lithium Aluminum Boro-Silicate Hydroxyide |
Indicolite is the blue color variety of the tourmaline mineral elbaite. Its typical color is a more deeper almost neon blue than other blue gems such as aquamarine and blue topaz. |
282 |
INESITE |
Silicates |
Rose-red, pink, orange-pink, orange-red-brown |
5.5 - 6 |
3.03 - 3.04 |
Translucent |
Common |
England, Austrialia, China, Germany, Japan, USA |
Hydrous calcium manganese silicate |
Inesite is an uncommon but appealing mineral that forms in attractive pink colors. Its crystals often have a very characteristic, chisel-shaped termination on one of the crystal angles. Inesite is likely named for the Greek term ines,
|
283 |
IOLITE |
Iolite |
Grey, blue, blue-violet, green, yellow-brown, colorless |
7 - 7½ |
2.6 - 2.66 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Brazil, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, India, Madagascar, Spain |
Complex Silicate of magnesium, aluminum and iron |
Iolite is also know as cordierite. Catalytic converters are commonly made from ceramics containing a large proportion of cordierite. |
284 |
IRON METEORITE |
Iron |
Metallic silver-gray, red-brown |
4½ |
7.3 - 7.87 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Chile, France,
Hungary, India, Niger, Norway, Oman, Poland, Tajikistan |
Iron |
Iron is a chemical element with the symbol Fe and atomic number 26. It is a metal in the first transition series. It is the most common element (by mass) forming the planet Earth as a whole, forming much of Earth's outer and inner core. It is the fourth most common element in the Earth's crust. |
285 |
JADE |
Jade |
Gree, lavender, red, yellow, white, black |
6½ - 7 |
3.30 - 3.38 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Canada, China,
USA, Burma, Vietnam |
Sodium Aluminum Silicate |
Jade is an ornamental stone. The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals: Nephrite and Jadeite. |
286 |
JADEITE |
Jade |
Apple-green, green-white, purple-blue, blue-green |
6½ to 7 |
3.25 - 3.35 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Burma (Myanmar) |
Sodium Aluminum Silicate |
Jadeite is a pyroxene mineral with composition NaAlSi2O6. Jadeite forms solid solutions with other pyroxene endmembers such as augite and diopside, aegirine, and kosmochlor. |
287 |
JASPER |
Chalcedony |
Red, yellow, brown, green, blue |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.91 |
Opaque |
Common |
Egypt, Australia,
Brazil, India, Canada, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Russia |
Silicon Dioxide |
The appeal of Jasper is its interesting color patterns and formations. Though it can be a solid color, it is most often mottled, spotted, ringed, or striped. Each Jasper has a unique color or pattern, lending this gemstone much variety. Jasper is an opaque form of Chalcedony. |
288 |
JASPER WITH CHRYSOCOLLA |
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|
|
Please see Jasper and Chrysocolla |
289 |
JIMTHOMPSONITE |
|
Colorless, Pink brown |
2-2.5 |
3.03 |
Transparent |
Very Common |
Carlton Quarry (Carleton Talc Mine), Chester, Windsor Co., Vermont, USA |
Magnesium iron silicate |
Jimthompsonite is an inosilicate with a triple chain silicate backbone. Pyroxenes have a single chain, amphiboles have a double chain, and jimthompsonite and a few other minerals have even wider chains. |
290 |
JULGOLDITE |
Pumpellyite |
Green Black |
4.5 |
3.6 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
India, Sweden, Germany, Italy |
Calcium Iron Aluminosilicate |
Julgoldite is a member of the pumpellyite mineral series, a series of minerals characterized by the chemical bonding of silica tetrahedra with alkali and transition metal cations. It has been recognized for its importance in low grade metamorphism. |
291 |
KAILASH STONE |
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|
292 |
KASOLITE |
Radioactive Mineral |
Green, gray green, yellow, yellow brown, red-orange |
4 - 5 |
5.83 - 6.5 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Egypt, France,
Gabon, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy |
Hydrated Lead Uranyl Silicate |
Kasolite is a natural radioactive mineral. Kasolite derives it's name from its main locality, Kasolo, Zaire, Kasolite can be found in world wide in uranium-bearing ores. Kasolite forms sheaves of divergent crystals, rivet washers, sea urchins and radiate aggregates fibrous. |
293 |
KIMBERLITE |
Peridotite |
Blue, yellow, black, stone grey |
10 |
2.5-3.1 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA, South Africa, |
Silicon Carbide (Chromium) |
Kimberlite is a type of potassic volcanic rock best known for sometimes containing diamonds. Kimberlite occurs in the Earth's crust in vertical structures known as Kimberlite pipes. Kimberlite pipes are the most important source of mined diamonds today. |
294 |
KORNERUPINE |
Borosilicates |
Green, colorless, white, pink, yellow or brown |
6 - 7 |
3.3 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Greenland, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Tanzania |
Magnesium aluminum borate silicate |
Kornerupine is a rare transparent to translucent gemstone named in honour of Andreas Nikolaus Kornerup a Danish naturalist, artist and explorer. |
295 |
KOTOITE |
Dolomite |
Colorless, White |
6.5 |
3.04 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
North Korea |
Calcium Magnesium Carbonate |
Kotoite, a borate anhydrous magnesium owes its name to Bundjiro Koto (1856 - 1935), a geologist Japanese professor at the ' University of Tokyo. It was first artificially synthesized before being found in nature. |
296 |
KROHNKITE |
Roselite |
Blue, dark sky blue, green-blue, yellow-green |
2½ – 3.0 |
2.06 - 2.9 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Chile |
Hydrated Sodium Copper Sulfate |
Kröhnkite is a rare copper sulfate mineral named after B. Kröhnke who first researched it. |
297 |
KUGEL FOSSIL |
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|
298 |
KUNZITE |
Spodumene |
Pink-violet, light violet |
6½ - 7 |
3.15 - 3.21 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Brazil, Afghanistan,
Burma, Madagascar, Pakistan |
Lithium Aluminum Silicate |
Kunzite is a pink to lilac colored gemstone, a variety of spodumene with the color coming from minor to trace amounts of manganese. Some (but not all) kunzite used for gemstones has been heated to enhance its color. It is also frequently irradiated to enhance the color. |
299 |
KYANITE |
Kyanite |
Blue, blue-green, brown, colorless |
Along axes
4-4½ across 6-7 |
3.53 - 3.70 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Burma, Brazil,
Kenya, Austria, Switzerland, Zimbabwe |
Aluminum Silicate |
Kyanite is used primarily in refractory and ceramic products, including porcelain plumbing fixtures and dishware. It is also one of the index minerals that are used to estimate the temperature, depth, and pressure at which a rock undergoes metamorphism. |
300 |
LABRADORITE |
Feldspar Plagioclase |
Dark-grey, grey-black, brown |
6 - 6 1/2 |
2.65-2.75 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Canada, Australia,
Madagascar, Mexico, Russia and United Stated |
Sodium calcium aluminum silicates |
Labradorite is a plagioclase feldspar. Used for bead necklaces, brooches ring, and ornamental objects. Colorless and yellowish-brown transparent labradorites are cut with facets. Labradorite is a form of Spectrolite. |
301 |
LACE AGATE |
Chalcedony |
White, grey, green, yellow, brown |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.64 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Angola, Armenia,
Bulgaria, India, Jamaica, Panama, Papua New Guinea |
Silicon Dioxide |
Agate is a microcrystalline variety of quartz, chiefly chalcedony, characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock. |
302 |
LANGITE |
Monoclinic |
Blue, greenish-blue |
2.5-3 |
3.5 |
Translucent |
Very Common |
Fowey Consols, Tywardreath, Par Area, St Austell District, Cornwall, England, UK |
Hydrated copper sulfate |
Langite is a rare hydrated copper sulfate mineral, with hydroxyl, found almost exclusively in druses of small crystals. It is formed from the oxidation of copper sulfides, and was first described in specimens from Cornwall, England. |
303 |
LAPIS LAZULI |
Lapis Lazuli |
Lazur blue, violet, green-blue |
5 - 6 |
2.50 - 3.00 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Afghanistan, Russia,
Chile, Angola, Burma, Canada, Pakistan |
Sodium Calcium Aluminum Silicate Sulfur Sulfate |
Lapis lazuli was already used in prehistoric times for jewelry. During the Middle Ages, it was also used as a pigment to produce aquamarine. Today it is used for ring stones and necklace as well as sculptures, vases and other ornamental objects. |
304 |
LARIMAR |
Pectolite |
Light-blue, green-blue |
5 - 7 |
2.84 - 2.90 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Dominican Republic |
Sodium silicate |
Larimar was originally discovered in 1916 by a Spanish priest who reported the discovery but no mining was done. It was determined by geologists that larimar is a rare form of blue pectolite. |
305 |
LAUMONTITE |
Zeolite |
Colorless, pink, white, grey, yellow, brown, golden brown |
3½ - 4 |
2.23 - 2.41 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Denmark, Ecuador,
Fiji, France, Hungary, India, Nicaragua, Sweden, Turkey, UK |
Hydrated calcium aluminum silicate |
A mineral, of a white color and vitreous luster. It is a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime. If exposed to the air, it loses water, becomes opaque, and crumbles. |
306 |
LAVA STONE |
Volcanic |
Dark to light brown, stone grey |
6 |
2.8 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Worldwide |
Mostly silicon dioxide with large amounts of impurities |
A Lava Stone (often shortened to volcanics in scientific contexts) is a rock formed from magma erupted from a volcano. In other words, it differs from other igneous rock by being of volcanic origin. |
307 |
LAVENDER QUARTZ |
Quartz |
White, grey, green, yellow, brown |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.64 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Very Common |
Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Isle Of Man, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Morocco |
Silicon Oxide |
Quartz belongs to the rhombohedral crystal system. The ideal crystal shape is a six-sided prism terminating with six-sided pyramids at each end. In nature quartz crystals are often twinned, distorted, or so intergrown with adjacent crystals of quartz or other minerals. |
308 |
LAZULITE |
Lazulite |
Dark blue to blue-white, green-blue |
5 - 6 |
3.04 - 3.14 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Angola, Bolivia,
Brazil, India, Madagascar, Austria, Sweden and United States |
Hydroxyy phosphate of Aluminum, mahnesium and iron |
Lazulite forms by high grade metamorphism of high silica quartz rich rocks and in pegmatites. It is considered a semi-precious gemstone. It is often confused with lazurite, lapis lazuli or azurite. |
309 |
LAZURITE |
Tectosilicate Sodalite |
Deep blue, azure, violet-blue, greenish blue |
5 - 5.5 |
2.38 - 2.45 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA, Afghanistan, Burma, Canada, Chile |
Hydroxyy phosphate of Aluminum, mahnesium and iron |
Lazurite is a product of contact metamorphism of limestone and typically is associated with calcite, pyrite, diopside, humite, forsterite, hauyne and muscovite |
310 |
LINARITE |
Linarite-Chenite |
Deep azure blue
|
2.5 |
5.3 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Plateau, Spain |
Basic sulfate of lead and copper |
Linarite is a somewhat rare, crystalline mineral that is known among mineral collectors for its unusually intense, pure blue color. |
311 |
LEAD |
Copper group |
Metallic grey, blue-white, grey-black |
1½ |
11.37 |
Opaque |
Common |
Ethiopia, Greenland,
Mexico, Mongolia, Poland, Sweden |
Lead |
Lead is a soft, malleable poor metal, also considered to be one of the heavy metals. Lead has a bluish-white color when freshly cut, but tarnishes to a dull grayish color when exposed to air. |
312 |
LEAD SULFIDE |
Copper group |
Colorless, white, tinted grey, yellow, green, blue, colorless |
2½ - 3 |
6.37 - 6.39 |
Opaque |
Common |
Armenia, Cuba, France, Japan
Ghana, India, Iran |
Lead Sulphate |
Lead sulphide (also spelled sulfide) is most often purified from the mineral galena. It is synonym of Anglesite. |
313 |
LEGRANDITE |
Arsenate |
Bright yellow, wax-yellow, colorless |
4.5 - 5 |
3.98 - 4.01 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Germany, Greece, Mexico, USA |
Zinc Arsenate |
Legrandite was named for a Belgian mine engineer known only as a Mr. Legrand, who was the first to collect the mineral. An uncommon mineral, occurs in oxidized zinc-arsenic bearing deposits, and can be found, albeit rarely, in granite pegmatites. |
314 |
LEMON QUARTZ |
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Please see Quartz |
315 |
LENGENBACHITE |
Sulfides |
Steel-grey, black, grey-blue |
1 - 2 |
5.8 - 5.85 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Switzerland |
Lead Arsenic Antimony Sulfide |
Lengenbachite from its only known occurrence at Binntal in the Swiss Dolomites, was described by R.H. Solly (1905). The mineral is layered, with a perfect cleavage and is relatively malleable. |
316 |
LEPIDOLITE |
Silicates |
Violet, pale pink, white, grey, yellow |
2.5 |
2.76 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Brazil; Ural Mountains, Russia; several African localities and California, USA |
Potassium lithium aluminum silicate Hydroxyide fluoride |
Lepidolite is an uncommon mica and has only in the past decade become available on the mineral market in large quantities. Lepidolite is an ore of lithium and forms in granitic masses that contain a substantial amount of lithium. |
317 |
LEUCITE |
Tectosilicates |
Colorless, white, yellow |
5 1/2 - 6 |
2.45 - 2.50 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Brazil, Cameroon,
France, Czech Republic, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, India |
Potassium aluminum silicate |
Leucite is a rock-forming mineral composed of potassium and Aluminum tectosilicate |
318 |
LEVYNE |
Zeolite |
Brown and in many shades |
4 - 4.5 |
2.09 -2.16 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
India, Iceland, Japan, Australia, USA |
Calcium Sodium Potassium Aluminosilicate Hydrate |
Levyne crystallizes in the Trigonal - Hexagonal Scalenohedral class. It typically occurs as radiating clusters or fibrous masses that are transparent to translucent in colors ranging from white through reddish and yellowish white to gray. |
319 |
LIDDICOATITE |
Tourmaline |
Usually smoky brown, but also pink, red, green, blue, or rarely white |
7.5 |
3.02 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Canada, Madagascar |
Calcium Lithium Aluminum Boro-Silicate Hydroxyide |
Liddicoatite is an uncommon form of Tourmaline. It was not recognized as a separate Tourmaline species until 1977. Prior to that time, it was thought to be Elbaite. |
320 |
LIGNITE |
Coal |
Brown-black |
2½-4 |
1.03 |
Opaque |
Common |
Bolivia, Dominican
Republic, Germany, Spain, Thailand, Turkey |
Mainly Carbon (Mixed) |
Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, or Rosebud coal by Northern Pacific Railroad, is a soft brown fuel with characteristics that put it somewhere between coal and peat. |
321 |
LIMESTONE BRACHIOPODS |
Calcite |
Light yellow, light brown, pink, red |
3 - 4 |
2.50 - 2.70 |
Opaque |
Common |
Biochemical Origin |
Calcium Carbonate |
Limestone is calcareous sedimentary rocks formed at the bottom of lakes and seas with the accumulation of shells, bones and other calcium rich goods. The organic matter upon which it settles in lakes or seas, are preserved as fossils. |
322 |
LIMESTONE JURASSIC RED |
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Limestone is a sedimentary rock consisting of more than 50% calcium carbonate ( calcite - CaCO 3). There are many different types of limestone formed through a variety of processes. Limestone can be precipitated from water ( non-clastic, chemical or inorganic limestone). |
323 |
LIMONITE |
Amorphous, mineraloid |
Light brown, brown, yellow-brown |
4 - 5½ |
2.7 - 4.3 |
Opaque |
Common |
Europe, Mexico, Canada and northeastern USA |
Iron Oxide |
Limonite is an iron ore consisting of a mixture of hydrated iron(III) oxide-Hydroxyides in varying composition. Limonite is one of the two principle iron ores, the other being hematite, and has been mined for the production of iron since at least 2500 BCE. |
324 |
LIROCONITE |
Arsenate |
Sky-blue, green, light blue |
2 - 2½ |
2.9 - 3 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Slovakia,
Germany, USA, UK, Australia |
Hydrated Copper Aluminum Arsenate Hydroxyide |
Liroconite is a truly beautiful mineral with a typical bright blue color, a nice glassy luster and an interesting crystal habit. It forms from the oxidation of primary copper ores. |
325 |
LIZARDITE |
Serpentine |
Bright green, yellow green, brown green |
2-2.5 |
3.18 - 3.24 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
UK, Germany, Slovakia, USA, South Africa, Norway |
Potassium Hydroxide |
Lizardite belongs to the kaolinite-serpentinite group of minerals and is one of three minerals commonly referred to as ‘serpentine’. Lizardite is the most common of the three serpentine minerals and is typically found with brucite and magnetite. |
326 |
LORANDITE |
Sulfosalt mineral |
Red, lead grey
|
2 - 2½ |
5.53 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
China, Republic of
Macedonia, Russia, Switzerland, USA |
Thallium Sulfarsenites |
Lorandite occurs in low temperature hydrothermal associations. Occurs in gold and mercury ore deposits. |
327 |
LUCKY STONE |
Ear Bone/Ivory |
White |
2.5 - 3 |
1.67 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Canada |
|
Lucky stone is actually the unique ear bone or otolith of a Freshwater Drum, commonly known as the Sheephead Fish. The Sheephead's otoliths are quite large and look almost polished and ivory-like. |
328 |
LUNA STONE |
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See Moonstone |
329 |
MAGNESITE |
Carbonate |
White or grey, also tinted yellow or brown |
4 – 4.5 |
2.98 - 3.02 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Austria; Bahia, Brazil; Korea; China; California, USA |
Magnesium Carbonate |
Magnesite does not ordinarily form good crystals, but can make up a substantial portion of some rock types. It forms commonly from the alteration of magnesium-rich rocks during low grade metamorphism while they are in contact with carbonate-rich solutions. |
330 |
MAGNETITE |
Spinel |
Iron black |
5½ - 6½ |
5.175 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Japan, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, India, Serbia, Thailand |
Iron Oxide |
Magnetite is the most magnetic of all the naturally occurring minerals on Earth, and naturally magnetized deposits of magnetite, or lodestone, was how ancient man first discovered the property of magnetism. |
331 |
MALACHITE |
Malachite |
Light to black-green, banded |
3 1/2 - 4 |
3.25 - 4.10 |
Opaque |
Common |
Zaire, Australia, Chile, Namibia, Zimbabwe, United States |
Hydroxy of Copper Carbonate |
Malachite was popular with the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans for jewelry, amulets and as a powder for eye shadow, nowadays popular for jewelry and ornaments. |
332 |
MANGANESE |
Metal |
Steel-grey |
6½ |
7.01 |
Opaque |
Common |
Chile, USA |
Manganese |
It is found as a free element in nature (often in combination with iron), and in many minerals. As a free element, manganese is a metal with important industrial metal alloy uses, particularly in stainless steels. |
333 |
MANGANOCALCITE |
Calcite |
Pink |
3 |
2.69 - 2.71 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Slovakia, Mexico, Bulgaria |
Calcium Carbonate |
Manganocalcite is a variety of calcite rich in manganese, which gives the mineral a pink color. Manganocalcite is sometimes confused with rhodochrosite. |
334 |
MANGANOTANTALITE |
Oxide minerals |
Dark black, iron-black to dark brown, reddish brown |
6 - 6.5 |
8 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, Norway |
Iron Manganese Tantalum Niobium Oxide |
Manganotantalite is a form of iron-rich tantalite with characteristics similar to those of Tantalite. |
335 |
MAPS / SURVEY |
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Mapping/Surveying is the technique, profession, and science of accurately determining the terrestrial or three-dimensional position of points and the distances and angles between them, commonly practiced by licensed surveyors. |
336 |
MARBLE |
Calcite |
White, green, grey-brown, blue-grey |
3 |
2.76 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Afghanistan,
Argentina, Austria, Canada, Norway, USA |
Calcium Carbonate |
Marble is the product of metamorphism on Limestone. Typically this metamorphic rock is composed primarily of carbonates, primarily Calcite (Calcium Carbonate). |
337 |
MARCASITE |
Sulfide mineral |
Pale brass-yellow, tin-white |
6 - 6½ |
4.887 |
Opaque |
Common |
USA, Mexico, Canada, Tanzania, China, India |
Iron sulfide |
The mineral marcasite, sometimes called white iron pyrite, is iron sulfide (FeS2) with orthorhombic crystal structure. It is physically and crystallographically distinct from pyrite, which is iron sulfide with cubic crystal structure. |
338 |
MARIAM |
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339 |
MARIPOSA MARBLE |
Calcite |
White, green, grey-brown, blue-grey |
3 |
2.76 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Afghanistan,
Argentina, Austria, Canada, Norway, USA |
Calcium Carbonate |
Marble is the product of metamorphism on Limestone. Typically this metamorphic rock is composed primarily of carbonates, primarily Calcite (Calcium Carbonate). |
340 |
MARRA MAMBA |
Oxides and Hydroxyides |
Red, light to dark brown, with shades of orange |
5 - 6 |
2.63 - 2.65 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
South Africa, Namibia, Australia, India, Thailand |
Iron Oxide |
Marra Mamba forms when Quartz forms over existing bluish-gray Crocidolite. Crocidolite is a type of asbestos mineral, which means its composition is of fine, dense fibers. These fibers form in a parallel yet wavy orientation, and this causes the intriguing chatoyant effect exhibited. Marra Mama is another word for Tiger's Eye. |
341 |
MAW SIT SIT |
Maw-sit-sit |
Light green, black |
6 - 7 |
2.5 to 3 |
Opaque |
Common |
Myanmar |
Aluminum Chromium Oxide |
Maw-sit-sit is a chromium-rich metamorphic rock with brilliant emerald green blotches and bands interspersed with dark green-black blotches. It was first noted in the early 1960’s by the famed Swiss gemologist Eduard J. Gübelin during field investigations in Burma. |
342 |
MEERSCHAUM |
Sepiolite |
White, light grey, light yellow |
2 - 2.5 |
2.0 - 2.1 |
Opaque |
Common |
China, Greece,
Hungary, Kenya, Malaysia, Norway, Turkey |
Potassium aluminum silicate Hydroxyide fluoride |
Meerschaum, also known as sepiolite, is a soft white mineral, often used to make smoking pipes. It is sometimes found floating on the Black Sea. |
343 |
MELLITE |
Tetragonal |
Honey to wax yellow, brown to reddish, gray, seldom white |
2-2.5 |
1.64 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Arten, Thüringen, Germany |
organic minerals |
It is a translucent honey-coloured crystal which can be polished and faceted to form striking gemstones. It crystallizes in the tetragonal system and occurs both in good crystals and as formless masses. |
344 |
MERCURY |
Metal |
Tin white, silver, grey |
Could not be measured |
13.596 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Chile, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Mexico |
Mercury |
Mercury is officially classed as a mineral species for historical reasons, and also because it is distinctive in its chemical and physical properties. However, because it occurs as a liquid, it does not satisfy the normal criteria to be a valid mineral. |
345 |
MESOLITE |
Zeolite |
Colorless, white, grey, yellow |
5 |
2.26 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Antarctica, Australia,
France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Nicaragua, Panama |
Hydrated sodium calcium aluminum silicate |
Mesolite is a popular zeolite mineral for mineral collectors and zeolite collectors in particular. Its radiating sprays of ice-clear acicular crystals are a hallmark of this mineral. |
346 |
MESOTYPE |
Natrolite |
White, colorless, red, yellow, brown, green |
5 - 5½ |
2.2 - 2.26 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Austria, Azerbaijan,
Cameroon, Chile, Guam, Lesotho |
Hydrated sodium calcium aluminum silicate |
Mesotype is a common and popular zeolite mineral. Its radiating sprays of ice clear acicular crystals are not exclusive to natrolite but they are a hallmark of this mineral. |
347 |
METAL |
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A general name given to typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile minerals/gemstones, with good electrical and thermal conductivity. |
348 |
METAMORPHIC ROCK |
Varies |
Varies |
Varies |
Varies |
Opaque |
Varies |
Varies |
Metamorphic Rock |
Metamorphic rocks arise from the transformation of existing rock types, in a process called metamorphism, which means "change in form". |
349 |
METAVAUXITE |
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white, light green |
3 |
2.345 |
Transparent to Translucent |
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metavauxite
Named in 1927 by Samuel George Gordon allusion to the chemical relationship to Vauxite. |
350 |
METEORITE |
Silicate minerals Asteroids |
Orange, yellow, red, blue-green, black, purple |
4.5 |
3.21-3.40 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Worldwide |
Elemental Iron-nickel |
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives an impact with the Earth's surface. While in space it is called a meteoroid. |
351 |
MICA |
Mica |
White, yellow, green, brown, silver |
2-2.5 |
2.8 |
Translucent |
Very Common |
USA, South America, South Africa, Romania, Iran, Egypt |
Potassium aluminum silicate Hydroxyide fluoride |
The micas are an important group of minerals. They represent the classic phyllosilicate mineral and are usually the first minerals to be thought of from this subclass of the Silicates Class. |
352 |
MICROCLINE |
Feldspar |
White, grey, grey-yellow, tan, salmon-pink, blue-green, green |
6 - 6½ |
2.54 - 2.57 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
China, Egypt,
Finland, Guyana, India, Madagascar |
Potassium Aluminum Silicate |
Microcline is an important igneous rock-forming tectosilicate mineral. It is a potassium-rich alkali feldspar. Microcline typically contains minor amounts of sodium. Amazon stone, or amazonite, is a beautiful green variety of microcline. |
353 |
MIMETITE |
Pyromorphite |
Pale-yellow, yellow-brown, orange, white, colorless |
3½ - 4 |
7.24 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Australia, Bulgaria, Greece, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Portugal, Sweden, Thailand |
Lead arsenate chloride |
Mimetite shares the same structure with apatite and occasionally crystals of the two will have similar shapes. It usually is found as a botryoidal crust, a sparkling cauliflower aggregation or as minute spike-like crystals. |
354 |
MILLERITE |
|
Pale brass-yellow to bronze-yellow, tarnishes to iridescenc |
3 - 3.5 |
|
Opaque |
|
|
nickel sulfide |
Millerite is a common metamorphic mineral replacing pentlandite within serpentinite ultramafics. It is formed in this way by removal of sulfur from pentlandite or other nickeliferous sulfide minerals during metamorphism or metasomatism.
|
355 |
MINERAL COMPOUNDS / MIXTURES / ALLOYS |
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Non mineral general items |
356 |
MINERAL SCIENCE |
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Non mineral general items |
357 |
MINERS |
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Non mineral general items |
358 |
MINING |
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Non mineral general items |
359 |
MINING TOOLS |
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Non mineral general items |
360 |
MOHAWKITE |
Copper |
Pale-brass yellow, silver-gold |
3 - 3.5 |
8.07 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Keweenaw Peninsula of Michigan |
Copper Arsenide |
Mohawkite is a rare rock consisting of mixtures of arsenic and copper, usually in white quartz matrix. It is name after the Mohawk mine were it was found originally. |
361 |
MOLDAVITE |
Tektite |
Black, green or colorless |
5 - 6 |
2.5 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Moldavia, Czech Republic, Austria, USA |
Silica glass with impurities of magnesium |
Moldavites are especially prized for their clarity and unique green color. Moldavites are found in a "splash field" centered around Moldavia in former Czechoslovakia and are believed to have come from a meteorite crater in Germany. |
362 |
MOLYBDENUM |
Metal |
Metallic white, metallic silver |
5.5 |
10.2 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
United States, Canada, Chile, Russia, and China |
Molybdenum Sulfide |
Molybdenum is found in such minerals as wulfenite and powellite , the main commercial source of molybdenum is molybdenite. Molybdenum is mined as a principal ore, and is also recovered as a byproduct of copper and tungsten mining. |
363 |
MONAZITE |
Monazite |
Red-brown, brown, pale yellow, pink, green, grey |
5 - 5½ |
5 - 5.5 |
Translucent |
Common |
Bolivia, Cameroon, Finland, Mozambique, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay |
Rare earth phosphate |
Monazite is a reddish-brown phosphate mineral containing rare earth metals and is an important source of thorium, lanthanum, and cerium. It occurs usually in small isolated crystals. There are actually at least four different kinds of monazite. |
364 |
MONTANA AGATE |
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Please see Agate |
365 |
MOHAWKITE |
Silicate |
Red, yellow, tan, white |
6.5 - 7.0 |
2.58 - 2.91 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Kennedy Ranges near Gascoyne Junction in Western Australia |
Silicon dioxide |
Mookaite is a siliceous, comparatively hard, fine-grained, chert-like, and homogeneous sedimentary rock that is composed predominantly of the microscopic remains of radiolarians. |
366 |
MOONSTONE |
Feldspar Orthoclase |
Colorless, yellow, pale sheen |
6 - 6 1/2 |
2.56 - 2.59 |
Translucent |
Very Common |
Sri Lanka, Burma,
Brazil, India, Madagascar |
Sodium Calcium Aluminum Silicate |
Moonstone's delicate beauty and its long heritage make it perhaps the most familiar gem quality member of the feldspar group. Moonstone is composed of two feldspar species, orthoclase and albite. |
367 |
MORDENITE |
Zeolite |
Red-brown, brown, pale yellow, pink, grey |
5 - 5½ |
2.1 - 2.15 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Brazil, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, China, France, Greece |
Hydrated Calcium Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate |
Mordenite is one of the most abundant zeolites in altered volcanic deposits; it is found in volcanic rock such as rhyolite, andesite, and basalt. It is associated with other zeolites such as stilbite and heulandite. It is also found in marine sediments. |
368 |
MORGANITE |
Beryl |
Soft pink, violet, salmon |
7.5 - 8 |
2.71 - 2.90 |
Transparent |
Common |
Afghanistan, Brazil,
China, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe |
Beryllium Aluminum Silicate |
Morganite, also known as "pink beryl", "rose beryl", "pink emerald", and "cesian (or caesian) beryl", is a rare light pink to rose-colored gem-quality variety of beryl. |
369 |
MOSS STONE |
Chalcedony |
Red to dark brown |
5.5 - 6 |
1.98 - 2.05 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Australia, USA, |
Sodium Iron Magnesium Silicate Hydroxyide |
Moss Stones are delicate gemstones. Their most significant vulnerability has to do with their water content. If a Moss Stone is allowed to dry, it will crack and fade. |
370 |
MULTIPLE STONES |
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Mixture of stones |
371 |
MUSGRAVITE |
|
Gray-green, green |
8-8.5 |
3.62 to 3.68 |
Transparent |
|
Australia |
Taaffeite |
Musgravite or magnesiotaaffeite-6N’3S (chemical formula of Be(Mg, Fe, Zn)2Al6O12), is a rare oxide mineral. It is used as a gemstone. Its type locality is the Ernabella Mission, Musgrave Ranges, South Australia for which it was named. |
372 |
MUSCOVITE |
Mica |
White, colorless, silver-white |
2½ |
2.77 - 2.88 |
Translucent |
Very Common |
Angola, Burundi, Chile, Ecuador,
Peru, Poland |
Hydrous potassium aluminum silicate |
Muscovite is the most common mica, found in granites, pegmatites, gneisses, and schists. It is in demand for the manufacture of fireproofing and insulating materials and to some extent as a lubricant. |
373 |
NACRE |
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Nacre is found in some of the most ancient lineages of bivalves, gastropods, and cephalopods. However, the inner layer in the great majority of mollusc shells is porcellaneous, not nacreous. |
374 |
NAMBULITE |
Manganese |
Reddish orange brown |
6.5 |
3.51 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Japan, Nambia, Italy |
Manganese Iron Magnesium Calcium |
Nambulite is formed from the reaction between a hydrothermal solution and rhodonite, and commonly creates veins in the host rock. Other than a collector’s gem, however, it has little economic value. |
375 |
NAHCOLITE |
Carbonate |
White to colourless, may be grey to brown |
2.5 |
2.21 |
Transparent to translucent |
Common |
ITALY |
|
Sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate is the chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. The natural mineral form is nahcolite. It is a component of the mineral natron and is found dissolved in many mineral springs. |
376 |
NATROLITE |
Zeolite |
Colorless to White |
5 - 5.5 |
2.2 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
India, USA, Nova Scotia |
Sodium Aluminosilicate Hydrate |
Natrolite is a common and popular zeolite mineral. Its radiating sprays of ice clear acicular crystals are not exclusive to natrolite but they are a hallmark of this mineral. |
377 |
NATURAL GAS |
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A mixture of hydrocarbon gases that occurs with petroleum deposits, principally methane together with varying quantities of ethane, propane, butane, and other gases, and is used as a fuel and in the manufacture of organic compounds. |
378 |
NEBULA |
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White,Green |
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Mexico, USA |
|
Nebula Stone is also called ‘The Birthstone of the Cosmos’ and holds a rare combination of Arfedsonite, Zircon, Calcite, Acmite, Anorthoclase, Riebeckite, Aegirine, Quartz, and many other minerals.
|
379 |
NELLITE |
|
Yellow, Light orange. |
4 |
5.88 |
Translucent |
|
Laurion, Attica, Greece |
|
Nellite is a massive silicate that forms where tiger eye and pietersite meet: it's like a blend of both. Nellite has the golden, translucent glow of tiger eye in quartz |
380 |
NEPHRITE |
Jade |
Green, also other colors |
6 - 6 1/2 |
2.90 - 3.03 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
New Zealand,
Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Taiwan, United States |
Silicate of Calcium, magnesium and iron |
Nephrite is dense, felt-like actionolite that is even tougher than jadeite. It uses as cabochons in other jewelry and for vases both decorative and religious. |
381 |
NEPHRITE JADE |
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See Nephrite and Jade |
382 |
NEPTUNITE |
Silicate |
Visually black, with very dark maroon highlights visible on some edges or in backlighting. |
5 - 6 |
3.2 - 3.3 |
Opaque |
Rare |
USA, Russia, Canada |
Silicate of potassium, sodium, lithium, iron, manganese, and titanium
|
Neptunite is a relatively recent mineral, having been first discovered only in the early 1900's. It is named after Neptunus, the Roman god of the sea, and its etymology is derived from its similarity to Aegrine, which was named after the Norse sea god.
|
383 |
NETROLITES |
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Please see Mesotype/Mesolite |
384 |
NICCOLITE |
Arsenide mineral |
Pale copper red |
5 - 5½ |
7.784 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iran, Morocco |
Nickel arsenide |
Niccolite or Nickeline is a mineral consisting of nickel arsenide, NiAs, containing 43.9% nickel and 56.1% arsenic.Small quantities of sulfur, iron and cobalt are usually present, and sometimes the arsenic is largely replaced by antimony. |
385 |
NICKEL |
Metal |
White |
3½ |
8.908 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Italy, Slovakia,
Sweden, USA |
Nickel |
Nickel is a silvery-white metal with a slight golden tinge that takes a high polish. It is one of only four elements that are magnetic at or near room temperature. It belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile. |
386 |
OBSIDIAN |
Natural Glass |
Black, grey, brown, green |
5 - 5 1/2 |
2.35 - 2.60 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Ecuador, Indonesia,
Iceland, Italy, Japan, Mexico and United States |
Silicon Dioxide |
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. The silicas left over after most of the other elements and water have been used up are ejected or flow out and rapidly chilled at surface temperatures. |
387 |
OCEAN WAVE AGATE |
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Please see Agate |
388 |
OCEAN WAVE JASPER |
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Please see Jasper |
389 |
OIL |
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Any of a number of viscous liquids with a smooth sticky feel. They are usually flammable, insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents, and are obtained from plants and animals, from mineral deposits, and by synthesis. |
390 |
OKENITE |
Inosilicates |
White to Yellow |
4.5 - 5 |
2.3 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
India, Greenland, Chile, Ireland |
Silicate Hydrate |
Okenite is an unusual mineral. It frequently forms "cottonball" clusters where the crystals are so thin they look like tiny fibers. s. |
391 |
OLENITE |
Tourmaline |
Light pink, blue, colourless |
7 |
3.01 |
Translucent |
Uncommon |
Austria, Italy, Russia, USA |
Aluminum-rich tourmaline |
Olenite is a very Al-rich member of the Tourmaline Group. Named for the type locality area, an unspecified granite pegmatite on the small Olenii Ridge, Kola Peninsula, Russia. |
392 |
OLIVINE |
Silicate |
Yellow-green, olive green, green-black, red-brown |
6½ - 7 |
3.27 - 3.37 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Venezuela, Vietnam,
Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda |
Magnesium iron silicate |
Olivines are an important rock-forming mineral group. Magnesium-rich olivines are abundant in low-silica mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks and are believed to be the most abundant constituent of the Earth’s upper mantle. |
393 |
OMPHACITE JADE |
Pyroxene |
Dark to Pale Green |
5 - 6 |
3.16 - 3.43 |
Opaque |
Common |
Austria, China, Germany, USA, Italy, Norway |
Calcium Rich Silicate |
Omphacite is a member of the pyroxene group of silicate minerals with a variably deep to pale green or nearly colorless variety of pyroxene. |
394 |
ONYX |
Chalcedony |
Almost every color , shades of purple or blue |
7 |
2.65 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Madagascar,
Germany, Canada, Russia, UK |
Calcium Carbonate |
Onyx is a cryptocrystalline form of quartz. It is usually cut as a cabochon, or into beads, and is also used for intaglios and cameos, where the bands make the image contrast with the ground. |
395 |
OPAL |
Opal |
Colorless, white, yellow, red, orange, green, brown, black, blue, pink |
5½ - 6½ |
1.9 - 2.3 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Venezuela, Vietnam, India, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda |
Silica with Water |
Opal is a silica mineral extensively used as a gemstone, a submicrocrystalline variety of cristobalite. In ancient times opal was included among the noble gems and was ranked second only to emerald by the Romans. It is a mineraloid gel which is deposited at a relatively low temperature |
396 |
OPALITE |
Opal |
Colorless, white, yellow, red, orange, green, brown, black, blue, pink |
2.5 |
1.2 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Worldwide |
Hydrated Silicon Dioxide |
Opalite is a trade name for synthetic opalised glass and various opal simulants. It is also used to promote impure varieties of variously colored common opal. |
397 |
ORBICULAR DIORITE |
Plutonic |
Black, grey |
7 |
2.8 - 3.0 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Corsica, South Africa, North Carolina |
Intermediate Intrusive Igneous Rock |
An Orbicular Diorite is a variety of diorite which is characterized by orbicular structure. The grey matrix of the stone has the normal appearance of a diorite, but contains many rounded lumps 1 or 2 inches in diameter. |
398 |
ORBICULAR DIORITE W/ HORNBLENDE |
Plutonic |
Black, grey |
7 |
2.8 - 3.0 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Corsica, South Africa, North Carolina |
Intermediate Intrusive Igneous Rock |
An Orbicular Diorite is a variety of diorite which is characterized by orbicular structure. The grey matrix of the stone has the normal appearance of a diorite, but contains many rounded lumps 1 or 2 inches in diameter. |
399 |
ORBICULAR GRANITE |
Plutonic |
Dark and light grey |
2.5 |
2.65 - 2.75 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Finland and South Africa |
Intermediate Intrusive Igneous Rock |
Orbicular granite (also known as orbicular rock or orbiculite) is an uncommon plutonic rock type which is usually granitic in composition. These rocks have a unique appearance due to orbicules. |
400 |
ORBICULAR RHYOLITE |
Chalcedony |
Light Brown, pink |
6.5 to 7 |
2.4 - 2.6 |
Opaque |
Common |
Madagascar, Russia, USA |
Extrusive Volcanic Rock |
Orbicular Rhyolite is a variety of jasper which contains variably-colored orbs or spherical inclusions or zones. In highly silicified rhyolite or tuff, quartz and feldspar crystallize in radial aggregates of needle-like crystals which provide the basis or seed for the orbicular structure seen in this kind of jasper. The material is quite attractive when polished and is used as an ornamental stone or gemstone. |
401 |
ORPIMENT |
Sulfide mineral |
Orange-yellow, lemon-yellow |
1½ - 2 |
3.49 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Georgia, Hungary,
Indonesia, Ireland, Kyrgyzstan |
Arsenic sulfide |
Orpiment is known as "King's Yellow", "Chinese Yellow" and "Yellow Orpiment". It is often found in association with realgar. It takes its name from the Latin auripigmentum because of its deep yellow color |
402 |
ORTHOCLASE |
Igneous |
Green, Grey-Yellow, White, Pink, Colorless |
6 |
2.55 - 2.63 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Worldwide |
Feldspar Orthoclase |
Orthoclase is one of the most common minerals, and occurs in numerous mineral environments. It is polymorphous with the minerals Microcline and Sanidine. These three minerals form the Potassium Feldspar group. |
403 |
ORTHOCERAS |
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Please check fossil. |
404 |
OTHER |
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405 |
PALM WOOD JASPER |
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Please see jasper. |
406 |
PAPAGOITE |
Cyclosilicate |
Light blue |
5-5.5 |
|
Transparent to translucent |
uncommon |
Arizona,Usa |
calcium copper aluminium silicate hydroxide |
it's bright blue color is the mineral's most notable characteristic.It is used as a gemstone. |
407 |
PARRAL DENDRITIC AGATE |
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Please see Agate |
408 |
PARSETTENSITE |
Manganese |
Copper Red |
1.5 |
2.54 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Italy, New Zealand, Japan, the United States, and South Africa |
Modulated Layer Silicate Group |
Parsettensite was named for its type locality at Parsettens Alpe in Switzerland. It is an uncommon mineral found in just a few localities including, additionally, Italy, New Zealand, Japan, the United States, and South Africa. Parsettensite can be found in and around manganese deposits. |
409 |
PEARL |
Pearl |
White-silver, rose, green, blue, black |
2½ |
2.65 - 2.78 |
Opaque |
Common |
Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Central America |
Calcium Carbonate |
The word "pearl" is synonymous with "bead". Valuable pearls occur in the wild, but they are very rare. Pearls from the sea are valued more highly than freshwater pearls. |
410 |
PEANUT WOOD |
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Argentina,Australia ,Belgium,Brazil |
|
See petrified wood. |
411 |
PECTOLITE |
Pyroxenoid |
White, colorless or gray, pale to sky blue |
4.5 -5 |
2.7 -2.9 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
USA, Dominican Republic, Italy, England |
Sodium Calcium Silicate Hydroxide |
Pectolite is a nice specimen type mineral, meaning that it can form interesting specimens from time to time. However it was not all that well-regarded until a variety was discovered in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. |
412 |
PERIDOT |
Peridot |
Yellow-green, olive-green, brown |
6½ - 7 |
3.28 - 3.48 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Burma, Australia,
Brazil, China, Kenya, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Tanzania |
Magnesium Iron Silicate |
Peridot is gem-quality olivine (olivine is a silicate mineral). As peridot is the magnesium-rich variety (forsterite) the formula approaches Mg2SiO4. The name derives from Greek, but the meaning is uncertain. |
413 |
PETOSKEY STONE |
Rock Fossil |
Light green, light grey |
4.5 - 5 |
2.56 |
Opaque |
Common |
Michigan |
Fossilized Coral |
A Petoskey stone is a rock and a fossil, often pebble-shaped, that is composed of a fossilized coral, Hexagonaria percarinata. |
414 |
PETRIFIED PALM |
Chalcedony |
Varies |
7 |
1.9 - 2.5 |
Opaque |
Common |
Hungary, Indonesia,
Libya, Thailand, New Zealand |
Silicon Dioxide |
Petrified wood is the name given to a special type of fossilized remains of terrestrial vegetation. It is the result of a tree or tree-like plants having completely transitioned to stone by the process of permineralization. All the organic materials have been replaced with minerals , while retaining the original structure of the stem tissue. |
415 |
PETRIFIED WOOD |
Chalcedony |
Varies |
7 |
1.9 - 2.5 |
Opaque |
Common |
Hungary, Indonesia,
Libya, Thailand, New Zealand |
Silicon Dioxide |
Petrified wood is the name given to a special type of fossilized remains of terrestrial vegetation. It is the result of a tree or tree-like plants having completely transitioned to stone by the process of permineralization. |
416 |
PETROLEUM |
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A liquid mixture of hydrocarbons that is present in certain rock strata and can be extracted and refined to produce fuels including gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil. |
417 |
PHENAKITE |
Phenakite |
Colorless, white, tinted yellow, brown and pink |
7.5 - 8 |
2.9 - 3 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Russia, Brazil, California, USA, Norway |
Beryllium silicate |
Phenakite is a rare beryllium mineral, but it is found so frequently with precious gemstones that its availablity is not in proportion to its rarity. It is found in pegmatitic pockets and is associated with gemstones such as topaz, beryl especially emerald, chrysoberyl and smoky quartz. |
418 |
PHORPHYRY |
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Please check Rhyolite. |
419 |
PHOSPHATE |
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A type of chemcial composition forming a stone |
420 |
PHOSPHOSIDERITE |
Metavariscite |
Peach-blossom-red, reddish violet, reddish purple, yellow-orange |
3½ - 4 |
2.74 - 2.76 |
Transparent, Translucent |
Common |
Germeny |
|
Phosphosiderite is named after its composition: phosphate and iron (Greek - sideros) |
421 |
PHOSPHOPHYLLITE |
Phosphate |
Blue-green to colorless, gray or black |
3 - 3.5 |
3.1 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Bolivia, USA, Germany |
Hydrated Zinc Iron Manganese Phosphate |
Phosphophyllite, whose cumbersome name means "phosphate leaf" in allusion to both its chemistry and cleavage, is a rare zinc and manganese mineral that is found at only a few localities. |
422 |
PICASSO MARBLE |
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Is a form of marble. See Marble. |
423 |
PIETERSITE |
Chalcedony |
Blue, red, gold, brown |
5 |
2.6 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
China and Africa |
Magnesium Iron Silicate |
Pietersite is the trade name for a (usually) dark blue-gray breccia aggregate made up mainly of hawk's eye and tiger's eye. It was discovered by a man named Sid Pieters in 1962 in Namibia. He registered his find in Britain and the discovery was published in 1964. |
424 |
PIETERSITE GREEN |
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See Pietersite |
425 |
PILBARA JASPER |
Chalcedony |
Red, yellow, brown, green, blue |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.91 |
Opaque |
Common |
Egypt, Australia,
Brazil, India, Canada, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Russia |
Silicon Dioxide |
The appeal of Jasper is its interesting color patterns and formations. Though it can be a solid color, it is most often mottled, spotted, ringed, or striped. Each Jasper has a unique color or pattern, lending this gemstone much variety. Jasper is an opaque form of Chalcedony. |
426 |
PINCTADA MAXIMA |
Pearl Oyster |
White-silver, rose, green, blue, black |
2½ |
2.65 - 2.78 |
Opaque |
Common |
Australia, Fiji, Tahiti, Indonesia, Philippines |
Calcium Carbonate |
Pinctada Maxima pearl oyster produces some the finest and most beautiful pearls in the world. The size of the shell is huge in comparison to any other shell available and caused a sensation in European and American markets when it first appeared. The average size of the shell is six to twelve inches. |
427 |
PINOLITH |
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Black to grey |
3.5-4 |
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Styria, Austria |
|
Pinolith is named for the appearance of the magnesite kernels found within the material. With their shape and color, it was first compared to pine nuts in early found rock. |
428 |
PINK OPAL |
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Please see Opal |
429 |
PINK LIMCAST |
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430 |
PIPE STONE |
Clay |
Light brown, light red |
1 - 2 |
2.08 |
Opaque |
Common |
Pipestone Minnesota and Pipestone River Ontario |
Potassium aluminum silicate Hydroxyide fluoride |
Pipestone is a type of argillite (metamorphosed mudstone), usually brownish-red in color. Because it is fine-grained and easily worked, it is prized by Native Americans for use in making sacred pipes. |
431 |
PAINITE |
Hexagonal |
Red, brownish, orange-red |
8 |
4 - 4.03 |
Transparent |
uncommon |
Mayanmar |
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|
432 |
PIRATES |
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Pirates is one of the only gemstones that comes in only one color. Depending on iron count in gem, gems can appear pale yellow/green all the way to a rich deep olive color. Origin of name “Peridot” is unclear. It's only gemstone found in meteorites.
|
433 |
PIRITA |
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6 – 6.5 |
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please check pyritesi |
434 |
PLANCHEITE |
Chain Silicate |
Blue, blue-green |
6 |
3.65 - 3.8 |
Translucent |
Uncommon |
France, Italy, Japan,
Mexico, Namibia, Norway, South Africa, UK |
Hydrated Copper Silicate Hydroxyide |
Plancheite is another in the long list of secondary copper minerals. And like so many of them, this one is colorful, attractive, has interesting crystal habits and is definitely a good collection mineral. Its almost turquoise-like color is unique and its typical fibrous. |
435 |
PLATINUM |
Metal |
Steel to dark grey |
4 - 4½ |
14 - 19 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Colombia, Japan,
Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia |
Platinum |
Platinum is a chemical element. A dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal, platinum is resistant to corrosion and occurs in some nickel and copper ores along with some native deposits. |
436 |
PLUME STONE |
Agate |
Dark to light green |
5.5-6 |
2.58 - 2.64 |
Opaque |
Common |
USA, Canada |
Varies |
In allusion to the plume-like shapes exhibited in the material. |
437 |
POLONIUM |
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Polonium is a chemical element with the symbol Po and atomic number 84. A rare and highly radioactive element with no stable isotopes, polonium is chemically similar to bismuth and tellurium, and it occurs in uranium ores. |
438 |
POLYCHROME JASPER |
Chalcedony |
Mixed |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.91 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Madagascar |
Iron Oxide |
Polychrome Jasper is a beautifully vivid multicolored specimen.While searching for the now mined-out mineral, Ocean Jasper, a discovery of Polychrome Jasper was made in Madagascar. |
439 |
POLYGRAM JASPER |
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Please see Jasper |
440 |
PORCELAIN JASPER |
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|
Please see Jasper |
441 |
PORPHYRY |
Igneous |
Brown, purple |
3 |
2.54 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Egypt |
Sodium Carbonate |
Porphyry is a variety of igneous rock consisting of large-grained crystals, such as feldspar or quartz, dispersed in a fine-grained feldspathic matrix or groundmass. |
442 |
POWELLITE |
Molybdate |
Yellow, Grey, Brown, Blue and Black |
3 - 4 |
4.25 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
USA, India, Turkey, Russia, Scotland |
Calcium Molybdate |
Powellite is named for the American geologist, Major John Wesley Powell, a former director of the U. S. Geological Survey. Most of powellite's occurrences are the result of hydrothermal reactions with the primary sulfide mineral molybdenite. |
443 |
PRASIOLITE |
Quartz |
Light green, colorless |
7 |
2.65 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Brazil, Madagascar and Myanmar |
Silicon Dioxide |
Prasiolite is the green variety of Quartz. The material is extremely rare in nature and is only found in a handful deposits. |
444 |
PRECIOUS STONE |
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A precious or semi-precious stone is a piece of attractive mineral, which—when cut and polished—is used to make jewelry or other adornments. Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire and Pearls etc |
445 |
PREHNITE |
Prehnite |
Yellow-green, brown-yellow |
6 - 6½ |
2.82 - 2.94 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Australia, China,
Scotland, South Africa and United States |
Beryllium Silicate |
It comes under Silicates group. Rare tabular , light green crystals. More often in greenish-white reniform, stalactitic or mammillary. |
446 |
PRINTADA MAXIMA |
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|
447 |
PRINT STONE |
Limestone |
White, yellow, light brown, pink, red |
3 - 4 |
2.50 - 2.70 |
Opaque |
Common |
Biochemical Origin |
Calcium Carbonate |
Lithographic limestone is hard limestone that is sufficiently fine-grained, homogeneous and defect free to be used for lithography. Geologists use the term lithographic texture to refer to a grain size under 1/250 mm. The term sublithographic is sometimes used for homogeneous fine-grained limestone with a somewhat coarser texture. |
448 |
PROMECERAS |
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|
449 |
PROUSTITE |
Proustite |
Dark red, red-grey, vermilion |
2 - 2½ |
5.57 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Fiji, France, Hungary,
Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Madagascar |
Silver Arsenic Sulfide |
Proustite is a sulfosalt mineral consisting of silver sulfarsenide, known also as light red silver or ruby silver ore, and an important source of the metal. It is closely allied to the corresponding sulfantimonide, pyrargyrite. |
450 |
PSILOMELANE |
|
Iron-black |
5.0 - 6.0 |
4.7 - 4.72 |
Opaque |
Common |
|
|
Psilomelane are the barium manganese hydroxides that do not create visible crystals. They are originally considered a mineral species until they were discredited in 1982 by the International Mineralogical Association. |
451 |
PUDDING STONE |
Conglomerate |
Grey-brown, stone grey |
2.5-3 |
2.5 - 2.8 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Hertfordshire, Schunemunk, Roxbury, and St. Joseph Island |
Varies |
Puddingstone is a popular name applied to a conglomerate that consists of distinctly rounded pebbles whose colors contrast sharply with the color of the finer-grained, often sandy, matrix or cement surrounding them. |
452 |
PURPURITE |
Triphylite |
Brownish black, violet, dark pink, dark red, reddish purple |
4 - 4½ |
3.2 - 3.4 |
Opaque |
Common |
USA,Australia, Namibia, France |
Manganese phosphate, |
Purpurite's color is purple, and although it is usually quite a deep purple, some pieces may be pinkish or lavender purple. |
453 |
PYRARGYRITE |
Proustite |
Deep red, red-grey |
2½ |
5.82 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Bolivia, Bulgaria,
Ecuador, Eritrea, Fiji, Hungary |
Silver Antimony Sulfide |
Pyrargyrite is a popular silver bearing mineral for collectors.The nickname "Ruby Silver" has been applied to pyrargyrite although it is typically applied to the related mineral proustite. Pyrargyrite is isostructural with proustite, a silver arsenic sulfide. |
454 |
PYRITE |
Pyrite |
Brass-yellow, grey-yellow |
6 - 6½ |
5.00 - 5.20 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Peru, Bolivia, Mexico,
Romania, Sweden,
United States |
Iron Sulfide |
Pyrite is wrongly called marcasite in the trade. True marcasite is a mineral, in many ways similar to pyrite. Because of its similarity to gold also called Fool's Gold. |
455 |
PYRITE CUBE |
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|
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|
|
Please see pyrite. |
456 |
PYRITE WITH QUARTZ |
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|
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|
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Please see Pyrite and Quartz |
457 |
PYROLUSITE |
Rutile |
Black, dark grey, shades of blue |
6 - 6½ |
4.4 - 5.06 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA, Mexico, Namibia, Iran, Spain, China, Japan |
Manganese Oxide |
Pyrolusite is a mineral consisting essentially of manganese dioxide(MnO2) and is important as an oreof manganese. It is a black, amorphous appearing mineral, often with a granular, fibrous or columnar structure, sometimes forming reniform crusts. |
458 |
PYROMORPHITE |
Apatite |
Green to dark green, yellow, orange-yellow, white, colorless |
3½ - 4 |
7.04 |
Opaque |
Common |
Germany, Hungary,
Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Morocco |
Lead Chlorophosphate |
Pyromorphite is a member of the Apatite group, a group of isomorphous hexagonal minerals. It is very similar in structure and appearance to Mimetite, and may be partially replaced by it. It is a typical secondary mineral found in the oxidation zone of lead deposits. |
459 |
PYROX MANCIT |
Pyroxene |
Light pink, purple |
5½ - 6 |
3.61 - 3.8 |
Opaque |
Common |
Worldwide |
Manganese Iron Magnesium Calcium Silicate |
Easily confused with rhodonite; however, Pyroxmangite is a high-temperature environment mineral and syntheses have shown that pyroxmangite of MnSiO3 composition is the high-pressure, low-temperature polymorph with respect to rhodonite of the same composition. |
460 |
PYROXENE |
Pyroxene |
Light pink, purple, black |
6.5 - 7.0 |
3.0-4.0 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Iceland, India, Indonesia, Mars, Kazakhstan, Libya, |
Clinopyroxene |
The pyroxenes are closely related to a group of inosilicates called the pyroxenoids. This somewhat informal group of minerals has a similar chain structure but the chains in the pyroxenoid structures are more "kinked". |
461 |
PYROXMANGITE |
Pyroxene |
Light pink, purple |
5½ - 6 |
3.61 - 3.8 |
Opaque |
Common |
Worldwide |
Manganese Iron Magnesium Calcium Silicate |
Easily confused with rhodonite; however, Pyroxmangite is a high-temperature environment mineral and syntheses have shown that pyroxmangite of MnSiO3 composition is the high-pressure, low-temperature polymorph with respect to rhodonite of the same composition. |
462 |
PYRRHOTITE |
Pyrrhotite |
Bronze brown, bronze red, dark brown |
3½ - 4 |
4.58 - 4.65 |
Opaque |
Common |
Armenia, Cuba,
Ghana, India, Iran |
Iron Sulfide |
Pyrrhotite has some unusual characteristics. First, it has an unusual formula. Secondly, it has two symmetries. While this should indicate that there are two minerals and not one, in the case of pyrrhotite, mineralogists have made an exception. |
463 |
QUARTZ |
Quartz |
White, grey, green, yellow, brown |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.64 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Very Common |
Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Isle Of Man, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Morocco |
Silicon Oxide |
Quartz belongs to the rhombohedral crystal system. The ideal crystal shape is a six-sided prism terminating with six-sided pyramids at each end. In nature quartz crystals are often twinned, distorted, or so intergrown with adjacent crystals of quartz or other minerals. |
464 |
QUARTZ W/ IRON |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Quartz and Iron |
465 |
RADIUM |
Radioactive Element |
Colorless to Black |
N/A |
5.5 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
N/A |
Uranium Oxide |
Radium is a radioactive chemical element. Its appearance is almost pure white, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, turning black. Radium is an alkaline earth metal that is found in trace amounts in uranium ores. It is extremely radioactive. |
466 |
RAINBOW CALSILICA |
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See Silica |
467 |
RAINBOW GARNET |
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|
See Garnet. |
468 |
RAINBOW OBSIDIAN |
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|
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See Obsidian |
469 |
RED JASPER |
Chalcedony |
Red, yellow, brown, green, blue |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.91 |
Opaque |
Common |
Egypt, Australia,
Brazil, India, Canada, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Russia |
Silicon Dioxide |
The appeal of Jasper is its interesting color patterns and formations. Though it can be a solid color, it is most often mottled, spotted, ringed, or striped. Each Jasper has a unique color or pattern, lending this gemstone much variety. Jasper is an opaque form of Chalcedony. |
470 |
RED MARBLE |
Calcite |
White, green, grey-brown, blue-grey |
3 |
2.76 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Afghanistan,
Argentina, Austria, Canada, Norway, USA |
Calcium Carbonate |
Marble is the product of metamorphism on Limestone. Typically this metamorphic rock is composed primarily of carbonates, primarily Calcite (Calcium Carbonate). |
471 |
REALGAR |
|
Orange to red |
1.5 - 2 |
3.5 - 3.6 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
China, Switzerland, Japan, USA |
Arsenic Sulfide |
Realgar is an oddball among the sulfides. It is one of only a few sulfides that are not metallic or opaque or blandly colored. Its structure is analogous to that of sulfur and resembles sulfur in most respects except for color (the name "ruby sulfur" has been applied to realgar). |
472 |
REMONDITE |
Carbonate |
White, pink, orange and yellow |
3 - 3.5 |
3.43 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Cameroon, Canada, Russia |
Sodium Calcium Strontium Barium Cerium Carbonate |
Remondite is named in honor of Dr. Guy Rémond, a physicist for the Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières in Orléans, France who worked extensively on the physics of minerals. |
473 |
RHODOCHROSITE |
Rhodochrosite |
Rose-red, yellow,
striped |
4 |
3.45 - 3.70 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Chile, Mexico, Peru, South Africa and United States |
Manganese Carbonate |
Rhodochrosite has been on the market only since about 1950. Transparent crystals are very rare. The aggregates are light-dark strips with zigzag bands. Usually used in larger pieces. |
474 |
RHODOLITE |
Garnet Intermediate Varities |
Red, brown-red, violet, black
|
6½ - 7½ |
4,2 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Greenland, Kenya,
Mozambique, Norway, Sri Lanka, USA |
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate |
Rhodolite is a varietal name for rose-pink to red mineral pyrope, a species in the garnet group. |
475 |
RHODONITE |
Rhodonite |
Dark red, flesh red, black |
5½ - 6½ |
3.40 - 3.74 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Australia, Finland,
Japan, Canada, Madagascar, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, South Africa, Tanzania and United States |
Manganese Silicate |
Rhodonite in addition to its red color usually has black dendritic inclusions of manganese oxide. Transparent varieties are very rare and faceted with table or brilliant cut. |
476 |
RHYOLITE |
Chalcedony |
Light Brown, pink |
6.5 to 7 |
2.4 – 2.6 |
Opaque |
Common |
Madagascar, Russia, USA |
Beryllium Aluminum Silicate |
Rhyolite is extrusive igneous rock that is the volcanic equivalent of granite. Most rhyolites are porphyritic, indicating that crystallization began prior to extrusion. |
477 |
RICOLITE |
Serpentine |
Light green, light brown |
4 - 5 |
2.5 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
USA & New Mexico |
Magnesium Iron Silicate Hydroxyide |
A variety of serpentine interbanded with talc. |
478 |
ROCKS / STONES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rocks are classified by mineral and chemical composition, by the texture of the constituent particles and by the processes that formed them. |
479 |
ROSE QUARTZ |
Quartz |
Dark to light pink |
7 |
2.65 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Very Common |
Brazil, Madagascar,
India, Mozambique, Namibia, Sri Lank and United States. |
Silicon Dioxide |
Rose quartz is a translucent, usually turbid, very coarse-grained variety of the silica mineral quartz found in pegmatites. |
480 |
ROSELITE |
Arsenate |
Dark rose red, pink |
3.5 |
3.69 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Rare |
Germany, Italy, Morocco |
Hydrated Calcium Cobalt Magnesium Aresenate |
Roselite is a rare arsenate mineral. It was first described in 1825 for an occurrence in the Rappold mines of Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany and named for German mineralogist Gustav Rose who discovered this mineral. |
481 |
RUBELLITE |
Tourmaline |
Pink, red, black, violet, green |
7
|
2.98 - 3.2 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Nepal, South Korea,
Spain, Sweden, Tajikistan, UK, USA, Zimbabwe |
Sodium Lithium Aluminum Boro-Silicate Hydroxyide |
The Rubellite is a particularly beautiful gemstone from the colorful family of the tourmalines. Its color shines in the most beautiful nuances from red to shocking pink. |
482 |
RUBIN CRYSTAL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Crystal |
483 |
RUBY |
Corundum |
Varying red |
9 |
3.97 - 4.05 |
Translucent |
Common |
Cambodia, Kenya,
Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Somaliland, Sri Lanka |
Aluminum Oxide |
Ruby is named because of its color. The hardest mineral after diamond, although only 1/40 as hard, it is seven times as hard as topaz. It has no cleavage, but has certain preferred directions of parting. |
484 |
RE-CRYSTALLIZED RUBY |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Ruby |
485 |
RUBY ROCK |
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|
|
Please see Ruby |
486 |
RUBY IN ZOISITE |
Corundum |
Varying red |
9 |
3.97 - 4.05 |
Translucent |
Common |
Cambodia, Kenya,
Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Somaliland, Sri Lanka |
Aluminum Oxide |
Ruby is named because of its color. The hardest mineral after diamond, although only 1/40 as hard, it is seven times as hard as topaz. It has no cleavage, but has certain preferred directions of parting. Because of brittleness, care must be take when cutting and setting. |
487 |
RUBY W/ SAPPHIRE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Ruby and Sapphire |
488 |
RUTILE QUARTZ |
Rutile |
Red-brown, blood-red or black |
6 - 6½ |
4.20 - 4.30 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Burundi, Burma,
Chad, Chile, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Serbia |
Titanium Oxide |
Rutilated quartz is a rare mineral that is mainly made up of titanium dioxide. |
489 |
SALOME MARBLE |
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|
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Please see Marble |
490 |
SALT |
Sodium |
Light grey, white |
2 |
2.16 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Worldwide |
Sodium Chloride |
Salt is a dietary mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride that is essential for animal life, but toxic to most land plants. Salt flavor is one of the basic tastes, an important preservative and a popular food seasoning. Salt for human consumption is produced in different forms. |
491 |
SALT PETER
|
Potassium |
Colorless or white, light yellow, grey |
2 |
2.11 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Australia, Bahamas, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Germany, Chile, South Africa |
Potassium Nitrate |
Known as Saltpeter or Niter. Because of its ready solubility in water, niter is most often found in arid environments. A major source of sodium nitrate mineral ("Chile saltpeter", that is, nitratine) is the Atacama desert in Chile. |
492 |
SMITHSONITE |
Calcite |
Grayish white, Dark gray, Green, Blue, Yellow |
4.5 |
4.4 - 4.5 |
Translucent to nearly opaque |
Uncommon |
washington,USA |
Zinc carbonate |
Smithsonite rarely occurs in visible crystals. The only two locations to produce large crystals of significance are Tsumeb, Namibia; and Broken Hill, Zambia. Virtually all other findings of this mineral are in globular or botryoidal-like forms. |
493 |
SANDSTONE |
Quartz |
Tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, pink, white |
6.5 - 7 |
2.2 - 2.8 |
Opaque |
Common |
Burundi, Burma, Chad, Chile, Cuba, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, Serbia |
Sedimentary Rock |
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-size mineral or rock grains. Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. |
494 |
SAPPHIRE |
Corundum |
Blue, colorless, pink, orange, yellow, green, purple, black |
9 |
3.95 - 4.03 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Common |
Laos, Nepal, New
Zealand, Pakistan, Malawi, India, Vietnam, Zimbabwe |
Aluminum Oxide |
In antiquity and as late as the Middle Ages, the name sapphire was understood to mean what is today described as lapis lazuli. Today corundums of gemstone quality of all colors except red are called sapphire. |
495 |
SCAPOLITE |
Tectosilicates |
White, grey, light brown, pink, yellow |
6 |
2.56 - 2.77 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Canada, Burma, Madagascar |
Sodium Aluminum Silicate with Chlorine |
Scapolite, which is the Greek word for shaft, is commonly found in stubby to long prismatic crystals. It is an aluminum silicate mineral with sodium and calcium and is part of a series whose end members are marialite and meionite. |
496 |
SCHALEN BLENDE |
|
Beige to brown |
|
|
Opaque |
|
|
|
|
497 |
SCHEELITE |
Scheelite |
Tan, golden-yellow, colorless, white, green, dark brown, colorless |
4½ - 5 |
6.1 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Uzbekistan,
Sweden, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Sweden |
Calcium Tungstate |
Scheelite is an important ore of tungsten which is a strategically important metal. Scheelite is a popular mineral for collectors. It forms perfect tetragonal dipyramidal crystals that look very much like octahedrons. |
498 |
SCHIST |
Metamorphic Rock |
Green, grey, dark brown, silver |
6 - 7 |
2.5 - 2.9 |
Opaque |
Common |
Varies |
Metamorphic Rock |
Schist is a crystalline metamorphic rock, mostly composed of more than 50% tabular and elongated minerals with grainsize coarse enough to be visible to the unaided eye. Schists have a developed tendency to split into layers. |
499 |
SCIENTIST |
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|
A scientist, in the broadest sense, refers to any person that engages in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge or an individual that engages in such practices and traditions that are linked to schools of thought or philosophy. |
500 |
SCOLECITE |
Natrolite |
Colorless, white, pink, salmon, red, green |
5 - 5½ |
2.25 - 2.29 |
Opaque |
Common |
Russia, Slovakia,
South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania |
Hydrated calcium aluminum silicate |
Scolecite is a tectosilicate mineral belonging to the zeolite group; a hydrated calcium silicate. Its name came from the Greek word 'worm' because of its reaction to the blowpipe flame. |
501 |
SHARK TEETH |
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|
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|
|
Please check fossil. |
502 |
SELENITE |
Gypsum |
Brown-green, brown-yellow, grey-green |
2 |
2.36 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Naica, Mexico; Sicily; Utah and Colorado, USA |
Hydrated Calcium Sulfate |
Selenite is a variety of the mineral gypsum and shows obvious crystalline structure. The four "crystalline" varieties of gypsum are sometimes grouped together and called selenite. |
503 |
SEPIOLITE |
Sepiolite |
White, light grey, light yellow |
2 - 2.5 |
2.0 - 2.1 |
Opaque |
Common |
China, Greece,
Hungary, Kenya, Malaysia, Norway, Turkey |
Potassium aluminum silicate Hydroxyide fluoride |
Sepiolite is a clay mineral, a complex magnesium silicate. It is used in oil drilling, for cat litter. Owing to its fibrous mineral nature, sepiolite veins may contain the hazardous material, asbestos; even where asbestos is not present, sepiolite is often mistaken for it. |
504 |
SEPTA CALCITE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Septaria and Calcite |
505 |
SEPTERIA |
Sedimentary |
Bright red, golden, grey |
2 - 3 |
2.6 |
Opaque |
Common |
Mexico, USA, Madagascar |
Calcium Carbonate |
Septarian concretions or septarian nodules are concretions containing angular cavities or cracks, which are called "Septaria". The word comes from the Latin word septum; "partition", and refers to the cracks/separations in this kind of rock. |
506 |
SEPTERIA JASPER |
Chalcedony |
Red, yellow, brown, green, blue |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.91 |
Opaque |
Common |
Egypt, Australia,
Brazil, India, Canada, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Russia |
Silicon Dioxide |
The appeal of Jasper is its interesting color patterns and formations. Though it can be a solid color, it is most often mottled, spotted, ringed, or striped. Each Jasper has a unique color or pattern, lending this gemstone much variety. |
507 |
SERAPHINITE |
Clinochlore |
Dark Green, Grey |
2 - 2.5 |
2.6 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Siberia, Russia |
Magnesium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxyide |
Seraphinite is a dense fine-grained variety of clinochlore which is used for carving and as a decorative stone. |
508 |
SERENDIBITE |
|
pale yellow, blue-green, greyish blue, black |
6.5-7 |
3.42 - 3.52 |
Transparent |
|
|
|
serendibite mineral is found in skarns associated with boron metasomatism of carbonate rocks where intruded by granite. |
509 |
SERPENTINE |
Serpentine |
Green, yellow |
2½ - 5½ |
2.44 - 2.62 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Afghanistan, China,
New Zealand and United States |
Hydroxyy Silicate of Magnesium |
There are two aggregate structures for serpentine: leafy serpentine and fibrous chrysotile. Very finely fibrous varieties are called asbestos. |
510 |
SERPENTINE W/ MICA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Serpentine and Mica |
511 |
SHELL |
Organic Shell |
White, light yellow, varies |
3 - 4 |
2.3 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Worldwide |
Calcium Carbonate |
The term seashell usually refers to the exoskeleton of an invertebrate (an animal without a backbone). Most shells that are found on beaches are the shells of marine mollusks, partly because many of these shells endure better than other seashells. |
512 |
SHORTITE |
Trona |
Colourless, light yellow, light green |
3 |
2.6 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
USA, Russia, Canada |
Sodium calcium carbonate |
Shortite is a sodium calcium carbonate mineral. It was discovered by J. J. Fahey in well cuttings from the Green River Formation, Sweetwater County,
|
513 |
SHATTUCKITE |
Silicates |
Bright blue, turquoise blue, dark blue |
3.5 |
4.1 |
Translucent |
Uncommon |
Nambia, Congo, USA |
Basic copper silicate
|
Shattuckite is an uncommon copper mineral that is highly regarded for its vivid blue color. It is named after the Shattuck Mine in Bisbee, Arizona, where this mineral was first discovered. Shattuckite occasionally forms within Quartz crystals, underneath the top layer. |
514 |
SHUNGITE |
|
Black |
|
|
|
|
Russia, India |
|
Shungite has been used since the middle of the 18th century as a pigment for paint and is currently sold under the names "carbon black" or "shungite natural black |
515 |
SIDERITE |
Siderite |
Yellow-brown, grey-brown, pale yellow, tan |
3.75 - 4.25 |
3.96 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Pribram, Bohemia, Czech Republic |
Iron Carbonate |
Siderite is typically found as brown to tan rhombohedrons in clusters, faces often curved or composites; more often found as medium to dark brown massive fine grained material or as massive crystalline material with exposed curved cleavage surfaces. |
516 |
SILICA |
Natural Glass |
Grey |
7 |
2.648 |
Transparent |
Very Common |
Bolivia, Chile, India,
Japan, Pacific Ocean, UK, USA |
Silicon |
Silica is a form of silicon, one of the most common elements on earth. Earth’s crust, silicon is the second most abundant element after oxygen, making up 27.7% of the crust by mass. Found in rocks and stones. |
517 |
SILICIFIED WOOD |
Petrified Wood |
Varies |
7 |
1.9 - 2.5 |
Opaque |
Common |
Hungary, Indonesia,
Libya, Thailand, New Zealand |
Iron Oxide |
A variety of Chalcedony. Fossil wood replaced by chalcedony (cryptocrystalline quartz), sometimes also by opal, coal, pyrite, calcite. |
518 |
SILICON |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Elemental Silicon |
Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. Silicon is rarely found in nature in its uncombined form. In fact it is amazing how rare native silicon is with 25.7% of the Earth's crust being silicon. |
519 |
SILLIMANITE |
Sillimanite |
Light and dark green, blue |
6½ - 7½ |
3.24 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Algeria, China,
India, Madagascar, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia |
Aluminum Silicate |
An industrial mineral used in the manufacture of re-fractories and high-temperature
crucibles. It is a sensitive indicator of the temperature and pressure at which the host rock formed.and pressure at which the host |
520 |
SILVER |
Metal |
Silver-white, dark grey, black |
2½ - 3 |
10.1 - 11.1 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Belgium, Bolivia,
China, Cube, Georgia |
Silver |
Silver has been known since ancient times and has long been valued as a precious metal, used to make ornaments, jewelry, high-value tableware, utensils (hence the term silverware), and currency coins. |
521 |
SILVER EYE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see silver. |
522 |
SKUTTERUDITE |
Cobalt Arsenide |
Silver white to gray |
5.5 - 6 |
6.4 - 6.9 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Spain, Canada, Germany |
Cobalt nickel arsenide |
The Skutterudite series is a group of closely related arsenide minerals with varying rates of cobalt, nickel, and sometimes iron. The cobalt-rich end member is Skutterudite, and the nickel-rich end member is Nickelskutterudite. .
|
523 |
SMARAGDITE |
Amphibole |
Green |
5.5 |
3.24 - 3.50 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Austria, France, Italy, USA |
Calcium, Magnesium, Iron Silicate |
A fibrous green amphibole mineral occurring in rocks such as eclogite. The color is due to small amounts of chromium. Mineralogically it is not related to emerald. An emerald imitation from fused masses is also called Smaragdite. |
524 |
SMOKY QUARTZ |
Quartz |
Brown, black, smoky grey |
7 |
2.65 |
Transparent |
Common |
Brazil, Madagascar,
Russia, Scotland, Switzerland and Ukraine. |
Silicon Dioxide |
Named after its smoky color. Very dark stones are called "morion" and " cairngorm". Smoky yellow quartz also occurs. The name smoky topaz is improper and no longer acceptable in the trade. |
525 |
SMOKY QUARTZ W/ AMAZONITE |
Quartz |
Brown, black, smoky grey |
7 |
2.65 |
Transparent |
Common |
Brazil, Madagascar,
Russia, Scotland, Switzerland and Ukraine. |
Silicon Dioxide |
Named after its smoky color. Very dark stones are called "morion" and " cairngorm". Smoky yellow quartz also occurs. The name smoky topaz is improper and no longer acceptable in the trade. |
526 |
SOAPSTONE |
Smectite |
Green, brown, grey |
1 - 1½ |
2.2-2.8 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Very Common |
Australia, Chile,
Norway, USA |
Magnesium Silicate Hydroxyide |
Soapstone (also called steatite) is a soft, easily-carved, fine-grained metamorphic rock that can be green, brown, or gray. This stone has a greasy, soapy feel to it, hence its name. Soapstone is found worldwide. |
527 |
SODALITE |
Sodalite |
White, blue, grey |
5 1/2 - 6 |
2.14 - 2.40 |
Opaque |
Common |
Brazil, Greenland, India, Canada, Namibia, Russia and United States |
Sodium Aluminum silicate with sodium chloride |
The name sodalite refers to its sodium content. For jewelry, only blue tones are used sometimes they have a violet tint; frequently they are dispersed with white veins from white calcite. |
528 |
SOIL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The upper layer of earth in which plants grow, a black or dark brown material typically consisting of a mixture of organic remains, clay, and rock particles. |
529 |
SOLAR GREEN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please check greenstone. |
530 |
SONORA AGATE |
Chalcedony |
White, grey, green, yellow, brown |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.64 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Angola, Armenia,
Bulgaria, India, Jamaica, Panama, Papua New Guinea |
Silicon Dioxide |
Agate is a microcrystalline variety of quartz, chiefly chalcedony, characterized by its fineness of grain and brightness of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of rock. |
531 |
SONORA JASPER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See Jasper |
532 |
SOUZALITE |
Triclinic |
Blue-green, dark grey-green |
5.5 - 6 |
3.087 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Córrego Frio mine, Linópolis, Divino das Laranjeiras, Doce valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
Hydrated Iron Magnesium Aluminum Phosphate Hydroxyide |
Souzalite is a triclinic mineral containing aluminum, hydrogen, iron, magnesium, oxygen, and phosphorus |
533 |
rphy |
Feldspar Plagioclase |
Full spectrum of colors, violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, red |
6 - 6.5 |
2.69 - 2.72 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Finland |
Sodium calcium aluminum silicates |
Spectrolite is the name given to rare specimens of labradorite, which display a full spectrum of colors, not only violet, blue and green; but also yellow, orange and red. |
534 |
SPECTITE |
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|
535 |
SPECULAR HEMATITE |
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
Please see Hematite |
536 |
SPESSARTINE (SPESSARTITE) |
Garnet |
Orange, red-brown |
6½ - 7½ |
4.12 - 4.18 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Burma, Brazil,
China, Kenya, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and United Stated |
Manganese Aluminum Silicate |
The name is a derivative of Spessart in Bavaria, Germany, the type locality of the mineral. It occurs most often in granite pegmatite and allied rock types and in certain low grade metamorphic phyllites. |
537 |
SPHALERITE |
Pyrosmalite |
Colorless, dark brown, grey, black |
3.5-4 |
3.9 - 4.1 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
USA, South America, South Africa, Italy, Indonesia, Thailand, Kazakhstan |
Zinc sulfide |
Sphalerite (which is also known as Blende), is an important ore of zinc and can make a rather attractive cabinet specimen as well. It can have excellent luster and associates with many beautifully colored minerals. |
538 |
SPHENE |
Sphene |
Yellow, brown, green, red |
5 - 5½ |
3.52 - 3.54 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Burma, Brazil,
Mexico, Austria, Sri Lanka and United States |
Calcium Titanium Silicate |
Sphene is a rare collector stone. Because of it's high dispersion and refractive index, a well cut sphene can display stunning brilliance. |
539 |
SPINEL |
Spinel |
Red, yellow, brown |
8 |
3.54 - 3.63 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Common |
Azerbaijan, Botswana, Burma, Fiji, Finland, France, Egypt, Germany, French Guiana, Greenland, Greece, Hungary |
Magnesium Illuminate |
Spinel is a mineral composed of magnesium aluminum oxide or any member of a group of rock-forming minerals. Several varieties of spinel are known like "Ruby spinel" is a semi-precious gemstone. |
540 |
SPIRIT STONE (YAVAPAI TRAVERTINE) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A varient of Travertine. Please see Travertine. |
541 |
SPLASH COPPER |
Copper |
Metallic golden, brass
yellow |
3.2 - 3.5 |
8.9 |
Opaque |
Common |
Costa Rica, Cuba,
Denmark, Eritrea, Germany, Guatemala, Israel, Jamaica, Laos, Mongolia |
Copper |
It is a varient of the metal copper. |
542 |
SPODUMENE |
Spodumene |
Colorless, yellow, light green, emerald-green, pink-violet, white, grey |
6½ - 7 |
3.1 - 3.2 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
South Africa, Spain,
Sweden, UK, USA, Zimbabwe |
Lithium Aluminum Silicate |
Spodumene is a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium Aluminum inosilicate, LiAl(SiO3)2, and is a source of lithium. It occurs as colorless to yellowish, purplish, or lilac kunzite (see below), yellowish-green or emerald-green hiddenite, prismatic crystals, often of great size. It is an important industrial source if lithium and its salts. |
543 |
SPONGE CORAL |
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|
|
Please see coral. |
544 |
STALACTITE (MALACHITE) |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Malachite |
545 |
STARBUST JASPER |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Jasper |
546 |
STEEL |
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|
|
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|
|
|
Steel is the most widely recycled material in the United States.The steel industry has been actively recycling for more than 150 years, in large part because it is economically advantageous to do so. |
547 |
STELLERITE |
Zeolite |
White. Yellow, Pink |
3.5 - 4 |
2.2 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
India, USA, Nova Scotia |
Calcium Aluminosilicate Hydrate |
Stellerite is the rarer cousin of the much more common zeolite, stilbite. Like stilbite, stellerite crystals can aggregate together to form a structure resembling wheat sheafs. |
548 |
STIBICONITE |
Sedimentary |
Yellow, yellow-gray, gray, brownish-yellow, brown
|
4 - 5.5 |
3.5 - 5 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
China, Mexico |
Basic antimony oxide
|
Stibiconite is an alteration mineral of Stibnite. It forms as a dull, crusty yellow replacement mineral over Stibnite. The pseudomorph is occasionally only partial, in which only a section of the crystal has been altered with the rest remaining intact.
|
549 |
STIBNITE |
Stibnite |
Lead-grey with pale blue tint |
2 |
4.63 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Costa Rica, Cuba,
Czech Republic, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary |
Antimony Sulfide |
Stibnite has no significant uses, except as a precursor to antimony oxide, which is the most commonly marketed form of antimony. In ancient times, it was used as mascara called kohl. |
550 |
STICHTITE |
Hydrotalcite |
Pink, Purple |
1.5-2 |
2.16 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Australia & Tasmania |
Hydrated Magnesium Chromium Carbonate Hydroxyide |
Stichtite is a mineral, a carbonate of chromium and magnesium. Its color ranges from pink through lilac to a rich purple color. It is formed as an alteration product from chromium containing serpentine. |
551 |
STILBITE |
Zeolite |
White, beige, peach, pink, orange, light yellow, brown |
3½ - 4 |
2.18 - 2.2 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Bosnia &
Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria |
Hydrated Sodium Calcium Aluminum Silicate |
Stilbite is a mineral of secondary origin, and occurs with other zeolites in the amygdaloidal cavities of basaltic volcanic rocks; it is sometimes found in granite and gneiss, and exceptionally in hydrothermal veins. |
552 |
STROMATOLITE |
Limestone |
Grey, white, dark brown |
6 - 7 |
2.3-2.7 |
Opaque |
Common |
USA |
Calcium Carbonate |
Stromatolites or stromatoliths are layered accretionary structures formed in shallow water by the trapping, binding and cementation of sedimentary grains by biofilms of microorganisms. |
553 |
STRONTIANITE |
Aragonite |
White, grey, light yellow, green, brown, colorless |
3½ |
3.74 - 3.78 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Angola, India,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Morocco |
Strontium Titanate |
Strontianite is an important raw material for the extraction of strontium. It is a rare carbonate mineral and one of only a few strontium minerals. It is a member of the aragonite groupIt is an important raw material for the extraction of strontium |
554 |
STRUVITE |
Struvite |
Colorless, white, yellow, brown, light grey |
1½ - 2 |
1.711 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Kosovo, Malaysia,
Namibia, Netherlands, South Africa, USA |
Hydrated Ammonium Magnesium Phosphate |
Struvite (ammonium magnesium phosphate) is a phosphate mineral. Struvite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system as white to yellowish or brownish-white pyramidal crystals or in platey mica-like forms. |
555 |
STYLOLITE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stylolite is sedimentary structure consisting of a series of relatively small, alternating, interlocked, toothlike columns of stone; it is common in limestone, marble, and similar rock. |
556 |
SUGILITE |
|
Light brownish-yellow, purple, violet, reddish violet, pale pink, colorless |
6–?6.5 |
|
Translucent |
Common |
Italy, Australia and India |
Cyclosilicate |
Sugilite was first described in 1944 by the Japanese petrologist Ken-ichi Sugi (1901–1948) for an occurrence on Iwagi Islet, Japan, where it is found in an aegirine syenite intrusive stock. |
557 |
SULPHUR |
Sulphur |
Yellow, sulphur-yellow, green-yellow, orange, white |
1½ - 2½ |
2.07 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Afghanistan, Algeria,
Croatia, Gulf of Mexico, Hungary |
Sulfur |
Sulfur or sulphur is the chemical element. It is an abundant multivalent non-metal. Sulfur, in its native form, is a yellow crystalline solid. |
558 |
SUNSTONE (ORI SUNSTONE) |
Feldspar Oligoclase |
Colorless, Yellow, Light Green, Emerald-Green, Pink To Violet, Purple, White, Gray |
6 - 6½ |
2.62 - 2.65 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
India, Canada,
Madagascar, Norway, Russia and United States |
Sodium calcium aluminum silicate |
Sunstone is very similar in habit to Aventurine, a form of Quartz that exhibits the same glittering Aventurescence effect. Sunstone is occasionally called 'Aventurine Feldspar' to distinguish it from its Quartz counterpart. However, Sunstone is always an orange or reddish color. |
559 |
SUNPYRITE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see pyrite |
560 |
SWIRL JASPER |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Jasper |
561 |
SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS |
Synthetic Stone |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
Swarovski is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut lead crystal glass and related products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria. The Swarovski Crystal range includes crystal sculptures and miniatures, jewelry and couture, home decor and chandeliers. |
562 |
SWIRL JASPER |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Jasper |
563 |
SYLVANITE |
Metal |
Grey, white, pale yellow silver-white |
1½ - 2 |
8.16 |
Opaque |
Common |
Portugal, Romania,
Saudi Arabia, Sweden, South Korea |
Silver Gold Telluride |
Sylvanite is one of the few minerals that is an ore of gold, besides native gold itself. The element gold is typically either found as native gold (in its elemental state), as an alloy with other metals such as silver and copper and as trace amounts in a few minerals. |
564 |
SYNTHETIC STONES |
Synthetic Stone |
Colorless, purple, gray-white, grey, yellow-brown, yellow, pink, green |
Varies |
Varies |
Varies |
Very Common |
Greece, Greenland, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan |
|
The dream of mankind to produce artificial stones that are really the same as the natural gemstone was realized at the end of the 19th century. The French chemist A. V. Verneuil succeeded in 1888 in synthesizing rubies at commercial prices. In fact, 50 years earlier the first gemstones had been produced synthetically, but they were only of scientific interest. |
565 |
TALC |
Clay |
Green, Grey, White, Silve |
1 |
2.7 - 2.8 |
Translucent |
Very Common |
USA, Austria, Italy |
Magnesium Silicate Hydroxide |
Talc is an important industrial mineral. Its resistance to heat, electricity and acids make it an ideal surface for lab counter tops and electrical switchboards. |
566 |
TANTALITE |
Oxide minerals |
Dark black, iron-black, dark brown, red-brown |
6 - 6.5 |
5.918 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, Norway |
Iron Manganese Tantalum Niobium Oxide |
The mineral group tantalite is the primary source of the chemical element tantalum. It is chemically similar to columbite, and the two are often grouped together as a semi-singular mineral called coltan or "columbite-tantalite" in many mineral guides. |
567 |
TANZANITE |
Zoisite |
Blue, intense violet |
6½ - 7 |
3.35 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Tanzania |
Calcium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxyide |
The name tanzanite was introduced by the New York jewelers Tiffany 7 Co. In good quality the color is ultramarine to sapphire blue, in artificial light, it appears more amethyst violet. |
568 |
TEKTITES |
|
Green |
5.5-0 |
2.34-2.51 |
|
|
|
|
Tektites are gravel-sized bodies composed of black, green, brown, or gray natural glass formed from terrestrial debris ejected during meteorite impacts. |
569 |
TELLURIUM |
Selenium |
Tin-white, metallic silver |
2 - 2½ |
6.1 - 6.3 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Honduras, Norway,
Spain, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe |
Tellurium |
Tellurium is extremely rare, one of the nine rarest metallic elements on Earth. It is in the same chemical family as oxygen, sulfur, selenium, and polonium |
570 |
TETRAHEDRITE |
Tetrahedrite |
Steel to iron grey, black, pink |
3½ - 4 |
4.97 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Egypt, Eritrea,
Ethiopic, Fiji, Finland, Germany |
Copper Iron Sulfides |
Tetrahedrite is named for its common crystal form, the tetrahedron. The tetrahedron is an interesting isometric crystal form. |
571 |
THENARDITE |
Sulfate mineral |
Colorless, light grey, light brown |
2½ - 3 |
2.664 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Iceland, Kenya,
Namibia, Netherlands, Niger |
Sodium Sulfate |
Thenardite is one of several non-marine evaporite Sulfate Class minerals. It is easily dissolvable in water and specimens should be stored with desiccant. Thenardite, which is named for the French chemist Louis J. Thenard |
572 |
THOMSONITE |
Zeolite |
White, Yellow, Pink, Red-Green, Brown and Green |
5 - 5.5 |
2.23 - 2.29 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
India, Germany, Italy, USA |
Sodium Calcium Aluminosilicate Hydrate |
Thomsonite is the name of a series of tecto-silicate minerals of the zeolite group. Prior to 1997, thomsonite was recognized as a mineral species, |
573 |
THULITE |
Zoisite |
Pink |
6.5 |
3.1-3.38 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Worldwide |
Calcium Aluminum Silicate Hydroxyide |
Thulite (sometimes called rosaline) is a translucent, crystalline or massive pink manganese-bearing variety of the mineral zoisite. |
574 |
TIFFANY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tiffany Stone" is an unusual material found as mineralized nodules in a beryllium tuff at the site of the Brush-Wellman beryllium mine. It is thought to be an opalized fluorite. Tiffany Stone is also known as "bertrandite" and "ice cream opal." |
575 |
TIFFANY OPAL |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Opal |
576 |
TIGER EYE |
Quartz |
Gold-yellow, gold-brown |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.64 |
Opaque |
Common |
South Africa,
Australia, Burma, India, Namibia, United States |
Sodium Iron Magnesium Silicate Hydroxyide |
Tiger Eye typically displays stripes, because included fibers are crooked or bent. It is sensitive to acids. Found together with hawk's eye in slabs of a few inches thickness. |
577 |
TIGER IRON |
Jasper |
Light to dark brown, red-gold |
6½ - 7 |
2.64 -2.71 |
Opaque |
Common |
South Africa,
Australia |
Iron Oxide |
Tiger iron is an altered rock composed chiefly of tiger's eye, red jasper, and black hematite. The undulating, contrasting bands of color and luster make for an attractive motif, and it is mainly used for jewelry-making and ornamentation. |
578 |
TIGER IRON |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
with matrix |
579 |
TIGER'S EYE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tiger's Eye with matrix |
580 |
TIN |
Metal |
White, metallic silver, black, dark brown |
1½ - 2 |
7.31 |
Opaque |
Very Common |
Nigeria, Sweden,
The Moon, Uzbekistan, South Korea |
Tin |
Tin is classified as a metalloid, as its chemical properties fall between those of metals and non-metals, just as the semiconductors silicon and germanium do. It resists corrosion from distilled, sea and soft tap water, but can be attacked by strong acids, alkalis, and acid salts. |
581 |
TINCALCONITE |
|
white |
1 |
1.88 |
Opaque |
Common |
Searles Lake, San Bernardino Co., California |
Hydrous sodium borate |
Most Borax specimens lose water in their structure if stored in dry areas and alter to Tincalconite. Although Tincalconite is found in a natural state, almost all specimens were transformed from Borax after being taken from the mine. |
582 |
TINGUAITE |
Igenous Rock |
Pale- to Dark-Green |
5.5 |
2.56 - 2.66 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Rio De Janero, United States |
Metamorphosed peri-aluminous |
Tinguaite is an uncommon extrusive igneous rock, volcanic rock, of intermediate chemical composition between felsic and mafic, with texture ranging from aphanitic (fine-grain) to porphyritic (mixed fine- and coarse-grain). |
583 |
TITANITE |
Silicates |
Light to dark brown, orange, yellow, yellowish-green, olive-green, emerald-green, greenish-brown |
5 - 5.5 |
3.4 - 3.6 |
Transparent to opaque
|
Uncommon |
Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, Africa, Brazil |
Calcium titanium silicate |
Titanite is frequently called by the name Sphene, which was the more popular term for this mineral prior to 1982. In 1982, the IMA adopted the official name as Titanite and discredited Sphene.
|
584 |
TITANIUM |
Metal |
Silver-grey |
4 |
4.506 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
China, Russia |
Titanium |
Titanium is also called the “space age metal”, it has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color. Titanium can be alloyed with iron, Aluminum, vanadium, molybdenum, among other elements, to produce strong lightweight alloys. |
585 |
TOOLS / HARDWARE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The mechanical equipment necessary for conducting an activity, usually distinguished from the theory and design that make the activity possible. |
586 |
TOPAZ |
Topaz |
Colorless, yellow, red-brown, light blue, pink-red, violet, light green |
8 |
3.49 - 3.57 |
Transparent |
Common |
Brazil, Afghanistan,
Burma, China, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka |
Hydroxyy silicate of aluminum with fluorite and iron |
The name topaz is most probably derived from a place of discovery on an island in the Red Sea, now ‘Zebirget’ but formerly ‘Topazos’. Colors of gemstone that is today called topaz are rarely vivid. |
587 |
TOUCHSTONE (KASAUTI STONE) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A black siliceous stone related to flint and formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal. |
588 |
TOURMALINE |
Tourmaline |
Colorless, pink, red, yellow, brown, green, blue, violet, black, multicolored |
7 - 7½ |
2.82 - 3.32 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
Sri Lanka, Western and Central Europe |
Complex Silicate |
Tourmaline has been known since antiquity in the Mediterranean region, the Dutch imported it only in 1703 from Sri Lanka to Western and Central Europe. They gave the new gemstones a Sinhalese name, 'Turamali' which is thought to mean "stone with mixed colors". |
589 |
TRANSPORTATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
590 |
TRAVERTINE |
Calcite |
Golden honey, silvery green |
2.5 - 3.5 |
2.71 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
USA |
Calcium Carbonate |
A variety of Calcite. Travertine is formed by calcium carbonate dissolving in ground water and then being deposited on the earth’s surface by rivers, natural springs, or geysers. Often it is banded or layered and in pastel shades of almost any color. |
591 |
TRONA |
Thermonatrite-Natron |
Colorless,
grey-white, light yellow |
2½ |
2.14 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Chad, Kenya, Libya,
Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, Venezuela, USA |
Hydrated Sodium Carbonate |
Trona is mined as the primary source of sodium carbonate in the United States, where it has replaced the Solvay process used in most of the rest of the world for sodium carbonate production. |
592 |
TSAVORITE |
Garnet |
Yellow, green with blue |
7.25-7.5 |
3.84 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Kenya, Madagascar, Tanzania |
Calcium Aluminum Silicate |
Tsavorite is one of two green varieties of garnet, though arguably the more important of the two. Especially in smaller sizes, tsavorite creates competition for emerald because it is less included, rarely treated, and more durable. |
593 |
TSCHERMIGITE |
Alum |
White, Colorless |
1.5-2 |
1.65 |
Translucent |
Uncommon |
Bohman, Czech Republic |
Ammonium Chloride |
Tschermigite is a mineral form of ammonium alum, formula. It is found in burning coal seams, bituminous shale and fumaroles. Because of its extreme water solubility it is unlikely to persist except in the dryest of conditions. |
594 |
TUNGSTEN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
595 |
TURQUOISE |
Turquoise |
Sky-blue, blue-green, apple-green |
5 - 6 |
2.31 - 2.84 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Afghanistan,
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Israel, Mexico, Tanzania and United States |
Hydrous Copper Aluminium phosphate |
The name turquoise means "Turkish stone' because the trade route that brought it to Europe used to come via Turkey. |
596 |
TURQUENITE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please see Howlite. Turquonite is howlite that is dyed blue to resemble turquoise, and is often falsely sold as turquoise. |
597 |
TUZLAITE |
Monoclinic |
White, colorless |
2 - 3 |
2.21 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Germany |
Hydrated Sodium Calcium Borate Hydroxyide |
Tuzlaite is a monoclinic-prismatic mineral containing boron, calcium, hydrogen, oxygen, and sodium. |
598 |
UNAKITE |
Granite |
Colorless, pink, green |
6 - 7 |
2.6 - 2.7 |
Opaque |
Common |
USA, Brazil, South Africa, Sierra Leone |
Orthoclase Feldspar |
Unakite is an altered granite composed of pink orthoclase feldspar, green epidote, and generally colorless quartz. It exists in various shades of green and pink and is usually mottled in appearance. A good quality unakite is considered a semiprecious stone. |
599 |
URANINITE |
Uraninite |
Black,
dark brown, grey, green, green-grey |
5 - 6 |
10.63 - 10.95 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Argentina, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Gabon, India, Madagascar, Mozambique |
Uranium Oxide |
All uraninite minerals contain a small amount of radium as a radioactive decay product of uranium |
600 |
URANOFANO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
601 |
URANIUM |
Metal |
Black, dark brown |
6 |
19.1 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Australia, Kazakhstan, Canada |
Uranium |
It occurs naturally in low concentrations (a few parts per million) in soil, rock and water, and is commercially extracted from uranium-bearing minerals such as uraninite. |
602 |
UVARORITE |
garnet |
Green, emerald-green, green-black |
6½ - 7 |
3.77 - 3.81 |
Transparent, Translucent |
Uncommon |
Finland, Iran, Norway,Spain, Russia, |
Nesosilicate |
Uvarovite is one of the rarest of the garnet group minerals, and is the only consistently green garnet species, with an emerald-green color. It occurs as well-formed fine-sized crystals. |
603 |
VANADINITE |
Pyromorphite |
Orange-red, brown, yellow, pale straw-yellow, colorless |
2½ - 3 |
6.88 |
Transparent |
Uncommon |
Chile, Gabon,
Kazakhstan, Span, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Mexico |
Lead Chlorovanadate |
Vanadinite is an uncommon mineral, only occurring as the result of chemical alterations to a pre-existing material. It is therefore known as a secondary mineral. It is found in arid climates and forms by oxidation of primary lead minerals. |
604 |
VANADIUM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Vanadium is a chemical element with the symbol V and atomic number 23. It is a hard, silvery gray, ductile and malleable transition metal. The element is found only in chemically combined form in nature. |
605 |
VARISCITE |
Variscite |
Pale, emerald-green, blue- green, colorless |
3½ - 4½ |
2.57 - 2.61 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Colombia, Germany,
Ireland, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Portugal, Senegal, Sweden, Venezuela |
Hydrated Aluminum phoshate |
Variscite is a relatively rare phosphate mineral. It is sometimes confused with turquoise; however, variscite is usually greener in color. Variscite is sometimes used as a semi-precious stone, and is popular for carvings and ornamental use. |
606 |
VERDITE |
Fuchsite |
Light to dark green |
3 |
2.80 - 3.0 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Africa, Toba, Japan |
Hydroxy Fluorite silicate of potassium and aluminum |
Verdite is a trade name for two green stones found in Africa: Serpentine and Fuchsite. Commonly used for sculptures; increasingly also for costume jewelry.
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607 |
VESZELYITE |
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Green, blue, greenish blue, dark blue; |
3.5-4 |
3.4 |
Translucent |
|
Moravicza (Vasko) in the Banat, Romania |
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A rare secondary Cu-Zn mineral occurring in the oxidised zones of base metal deposits. |
608 |
VESUVIANITE |
TERRAGONAL |
Brown, yellow, brown-black, light green, emerald green, white, red, purple, violet, blue-green to blue |
6.5 |
3.35 - 3.45 |
Subtransparent to subtranslucent |
Uncommon |
Somma, Vesuvius, Italy |
Sorosilicate |
Vesuvianite, also known as idocrase, is a green, brown, yellow, or blue silicate mineral. Vesuvianite occurs as tetragonal crystals in skarn deposits and limestones that have been subjected to contact metamorphism. |
609 |
VESONITE |
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Please see vesuvianite. |
610 |
VIOLANE |
Diopside |
Violet, Light Blue |
5 - 6 |
3.22 - 3.40 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Greece, Italy, USA |
Calcium Magnesium Manganese Silicate |
Violane is a coarse violet to light blue, manganese-rich variety of Diopside. It is translucent to opaque material from Piedmont, Italy. Violane is used for ornamental objects. |
611 |
VIOLET STONE |
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Please see Violane |
612 |
VIVIANITE |
Phosphate |
Light green, dark blue, colorless |
1.5-2 |
2.68 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
UK, USA, Africa, Australia, South America |
Hydrated Iron Phosphate |
Vivianite is a hydrated iron phosphate mineral found in a number of geological environments. Pure fresh vivianite is colorless, but the mineral oxidizes very easily. |
613 |
VLASOVITE |
Sillicate |
Colorless or brownish |
6 |
2.92 - 2.97 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
Canada, Russia, Saint Helena |
Sodium Zircon Sulfur Iodine Hydroxide |
Vlasovite is a rare inosilicate (chain silicate) mineral with sodium and zirconium. It was discovered in 1961 at Vavnbed Mountain in the Lovozero Massif, in the Northern Region of Russia. |
614 |
VOLCANIC COTTAM |
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615 |
WATER |
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Water is a common chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of life. In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or state, but the substance also has a solid state, ice, and a gaseous state, water vapor or steam. |
616 |
WAVE JASPER |
Chalcedony |
Red, yellow, brown, green, blue |
6½ - 7 |
2.58 - 2.91 |
Opaque |
Common |
Egypt, Australia,
Brazil, India, Canada, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Russia |
Silicon Dioxide |
The appeal of Jasper is its interesting color patterns and formations. Though it can be a solid color, it is most often mottled, spotted, ringed, or striped. Each Jasper has a unique color or pattern, lending this gemstone much variety. |
617 |
WAVELLITE |
Phosphate |
Green to yellowish-green and yellow, greenish white, yellowish-brown, brown, brownish-black, blue |
3.5 - 4 |
2.36 |
Transparent to opaque |
Common |
England, USA |
Aluminum phosphate |
A secondary mineral found most often in aluminous, low-grade metamorphic rocks. Usually found as radiating "starburst" clusters of green to yellow-green fibrous crystals on fracture surfaces in the matrix,
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618 |
WHITE BONE |
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See Fossil |
619 |
WHITE CORAL |
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Please see Coral |
620 |
WHITE TOPAZ |
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Please see Topaz |
621 |
WILLEMITE |
Phenakite |
Colorless, white, pastel green, apple-green, light blue |
5½ |
3.89 - 4.19 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Ireland, Mongolia,
Norway, Portugal, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Zambia |
Zinc Silicate |
Willemite is a zinc silicate mineral and a minor ore of zinc. It is highly fluorescent (green) under shortwave ultraviolet light. It occurs in all different colors in daylight, in fibrous masses, solid brown masses ("troostite"), and apple green gemmy masses. |
622 |
WOLFRAMITE |
Tungstates |
Black, dark brown |
5 - 5½ |
7.1 - 7.6 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Common |
India, Japan,
Morocco, Namibia, Mongolia, Mexico, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria |
Iron Manganese Tungstate |
Wolframite was highly valued as the main source of the metal tungsten, a strong and quite dense material with a high melting temperature used for electric filaments and armor-piercing ammunition, as well as hard tungsten carbide machine tools. |
623 |
WOLLASTONITE |
Calcium Inosilicate |
White, colorless or gray |
4.5 - 5 |
2.86 - 3.09 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Romania, Italy, Finland, USA, China, India |
Calcium Silicate |
Wollastonite is a calcium inosilicate mineral that may contain small amounts of iron, magnesium. It forms when impure limestone or dolostone is subjected to high temperature and pressure sometimes in the presence of silica-bearing fluids |
624 |
WOOD |
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Wood is an organic material; in the strict sense it is produced as secondary Sytem in the stems of trees. |
625 |
WOOD OPAL |
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Please see Opal |
626 |
WULFENITE |
Scheelite |
Honey-yellow, orange, red |
3 |
6.50 - 7.00 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
China, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan |
Lead Molybdate |
Stubby, pyramidal crystal, often tabular and with a square outline. A secondary ore of molybdenum. Much sought after by collectors. |
627 |
WYOMING JADE |
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Please see Jade |
628 |
YELLOW LACE AGATE |
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Please see Agate |
629 |
YELLOW METAL |
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Please see Metal |
630 |
YELLOW QUARTZ |
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Please see Quartz |
631 |
YELLOW TOPAZ |
Topaz |
Colorless, yellow, red-brown, light blue, pink-red, violet, light green |
8 |
3.49 - 3.57 |
Transparent |
Common |
Brazil, Afghanistan,
Burma, China, Japan, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka |
Hydroxyy silicate of aluminum with fluorite and iron |
The name topaz is most probably derived from a place of discovery on an island in the Red Sea, now ‘Zebirget’ but formerly ‘Topazos’. Colors of gemstone that is today called topaz are rarely vivid. |
632 |
YUGAWARALITE |
Zeolite |
White to Milky White |
2 |
2.2-2.23 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Uncommon |
India, Japan, USA |
Calcium Aluminosilicate Hydrate |
Named after its discovery locality, Yugawara Hot Spring, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. A few colorless faceted gemstones have been cut from this exceptional and extremely rare material. |
633 |
ZEBRA JASPER |
Chalcedony |
White, light yellow |
7 |
2.58-2.91 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
South Africa |
Silicon Dioxide |
The Zebra Stone is a stone composed of characteristics similar to Tiger Iron and Tiger Eye. Colors vary from dark rich browns streaked with grey to a lighter brown brushed with a cream color and some materials have shriller, like Tiger Eye. |
634 |
ZEBRATO GRANITE |
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Please see Granite. |
635 |
ZINC |
Metal |
White metallic |
2 |
6.9 - 7.2 |
Opaque |
Uncommon |
Guinea, Italy,
Mongolia, The Moon, Russia |
Zinc |
Zinc is an essential mineral of "exceptional biologic and public health importance". Zinc deficiency affects about 2 billion people in the developing world and is associated with many diseases. |
636 |
ZINNWALDITE |
Phyllosilicate mineral |
Grey-brown, yellow-brown, light violet, pink, silver-grey, green-grey, nearly black |
2½ - 4 |
2.9 - 3.02 |
Translucent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Egypt, Greenland,
Japan, North Korea, South Africa, Tajikistan, Zimbabwe |
Potassium Lithium Iron Aluminum Silicate Hydroxyide Fluoride |
Zinnwaldite, is a potassium lithium iron Aluminum silicate Hydroxyide fluoride silicate mineral in the mica group. It occurs in greisens, pegmatite, and quartz veins often associated with tin ore deposits. |
637 |
ZIRCON |
Zircon |
Colorless, yellow, grey, red-brown, green, brown, black, |
7½ |
4.6 - 4.7 |
Transparent to Translucent |
Common |
Angola, Antarctica,
Armenia, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bulgaria, Cuba, Eritrea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, India |
Zirconium Silicate |
Zircon is a mineral belonging to the group of nesosilicates. zircon varies between colorless, yellow-golden, red, brown, and green. Colorless specimens that show gem quality are a popular substitute for diamond. |
638 |
ZOISITE |
Zoisite |
Colorless, purple, grey-white, yellow-grey, brown, yellow, pink, green |
6 - 7 |
3.15 - 3.36 |
Transparent to Opaque |
Uncommon |
Greece, Greenland,
Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Mexico |
Hydroxyy silicate of calcium and aluminum |
Zoisite is a grayish-white or grayish-green crystalline mineral of the epidote group consisting of a Hydroxyyl silicate of calcium and aluminum. It is popular among scientist and collectors. |