Rocks & Minerals

Gold ore is a concentration of gold in rock, particles or flakes in water. Gold ore is only technically considered to be ore if it is feasible to mine it for extraction of the precious metal content.

Black tourmaline is also known as schorl. This gemstone mineral is a member of the tourmaline family of crystals, which includes pink, watermelon, blue, red and green. Black tourmaline has a long...

Citrine is a variety of quartz. It is yellow, orange or brown in color, and it is commonly used in jewelry. It is rare but composed of the earth's most abundant mineral.

Zeolite-Y is a man-made crystalline mineral that is most often found in industry; used for filtering, processing and absorbing chemicals in industrial manufacturing processes.

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Although having iron in your water is not harmful to the body unless it builds up over a long time, it can have an effect on the taste and smell. In large enough amounts, it can discourage people...

The Dead Sea has the highest salt content of any of the world's seas. The Encyclopedia Britannica indicates that the name can be traced back to the Hellenistic period (323 to 30 B.C.).

Fluorite crystals are semitransparent minerals composed of calcium fluoride. They are often used in healing practices to aid those with broken bones, teeth problems and osteoporosis. It is...

Rocks and minerals exist in a number of forms. One of the more interesting and visually stunning varieties are fluorescent rocks. These rocks glow various colors under a black light. They are...

Gemologists are able to identify gems such as diamonds, rubies and sapphires to find out if a stone is genuine or synthetic. Identifying gems involves observing and testing them for their...

Calcium is a silvery, gray metal found in rocks, bones, leaves and shells. Humans have been using calcium, in the form of limestone and gypsum, for thousands of years. Calcium carbonate is a...

Trommels of all sizes perform a variety of activities through a process of sifting. Whether your company needs an industrial size device, or you desire to add new mulch to your garden, you may...

Crystals and gemstones have been used for centuries in alternative healing techniques. While they are said to work through vibration and resonance to affect specific aspects of life or health,...

Most individuals think that salt water is more dense than fresh water, and they are correct. However, this could lead to the assumption that rocks can easily float in salt water. That isn't...

Jadeite is one of two minerals that can be called jade (the other one is Nephrite). It is harder than steel and cannot be carved like materials used for sculpture. It is shaped by grinding and...

Chalcedony is a mineral formed with one silicone molecule and two oxygen molecules, giving it the name silicon dioxide. A number of stones fall under the category of chalcedony.

Labradorite is a variety of the mineral feldspar. Although the color of the stone is silver gray, the stone displays an array of colors according to the angle of light refraction.

Slate is the finest grained of the metamorphic rocks. Characteristics such as strength, color, density and absorbency vary by geographic location because of varying geologic forces, like heat and...

There are many different types of rocks, minerals and stones out there. Each falls into a particular category and is used for certain purposes. One of the more popularly used rocks out there,...

In many cold regions, people apply salt to icy roads and surfaces in an attempt to rapidly melt and clear the slippery ice. This works, up to a point, because the salt dissolves into the liquid...

The search for diamonds can be an addictive pastime. Some rock hounds prefer to visit known diamond sites such as the Treasure Mountain Diamond Mine in New York. Others like to explore the...

Fingering a strand of worry beads may help with prayer or stress relief. Amber, fossilized resin from ancient trees, is a popular choice for prayer beads because of its warm brown and red tones,...

Slate is a metamorphic rock. Metamorphic rocks are rocks that change form from one type of rock into another because of time, pressure, heat and other factors. Diamonds are the most famous of...

Share an interesting science experiment with your kids and help them form a crystal in a jar. Aside from the learning experience, you can use the crystals you create as decorative holiday...

Larimar is a semiprecious stone that is only found in the Dominican Republic. It is said to mirror the Caribbean Sea and comes in various hues of blue and green. Because the stone is only found in...

The rock cycle is a repeating process that causes various types of rocks to form and decay. While the cycles for some types of rocks follow a specific path, not all types of rocks follow the same...

Paraffin is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a waxy crystalline flammable substance obtained especially from distillates of wood, coal, petroleum, or shale oil that is a complex mixture of...

Quartz is one of, if not the most, common minerals on the Earth. They've been used for spiritual purposes for centuries, and large chunks of it can be found in any New Age shop. Quartz crystals...

Red Aswan granite is a luxury stone that comes from a particular mine in Egypt, and is used in construction and kitchen projects throughout the world. It is a dense type of granite with a striking...

Paraiba tourmaline was discovered in 1989 by H. Dimas Barbosa in a hill outside of Paraiba, Brazil. It took five years for this prospector to find something of value, and his tenacity led to...

Most commonly known for its deep red color and its popularity in jewelry designs of the Victorian era, garnet gemstones have surprised gem trade by becoming available in a variety of colors....

A gem mining trip allows you to go prospecting for gems like sapphire, garnet and topaz. There are different ways of prospecting, but all require little equipment. Before you decide on which mine...

Tiny, bright crystals sparkling like snow or sugar on the surface distinguish drusy from other gemstones. This unique effect has made drusy a popular choice for jewelry designers who want to...

Of all the gemstones in the world today, beryl crystals are among the most brilliantly colored and sought after gems. From the deep green of emeralds, the sea blues of aquamarine, the pale pink of...

Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances that have a specific properties, and they can be identified by testing each property. A gem is a precious mineral used in jewelry. Rocks are a...

Climate, the long-term weather pattern over a geographic area, affects rocks and soil exposed to the elements. The amount of precipitation, the daily temperature, and the fluctuation in...

A geode is a beauty of the natural world, consisting of a round rock that contains crystallized minerals on the inside. Before opening a geode, it is impossible to know exactly what if anything is...

Rough gemstones tend to only hint at their inner beauty. The art of faceting or polishing facets brings out the hidden brilliance of a gem. Each of a diamond's tiny flat surfaces is called a...

The two ways to identify gemstones are confirmative and determinative. The latter way is used by professionals and will not be discussed here. The easier way to identify gems is the confirmative...

There are numerous reasons to grow crystals and many different types that you can grow. Whether you want to grow them for a science experiment or to make rock candy, the types you can grow are...

Sucrose, or table sugar (C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁), is one of the best-known organic compounds in the world. Sucrose is a disaccharide, which means it is two simple...

One of the most popular gemstones, the amethyst crystal is highly prized for its rich purple color and has been used in a variety of ways for thousands of years.

Zircon is a semiprecious brittle stone found around the world that is located in metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous rocks. It is used in the gem business and for industrial purposes.

The bright slit of color that runs through the center of the cat's eye gemstone looks like a feline eye shining in the light. This unique stone's composition puts it in a separate gem category.

The science of gemology is fascinating not only for the professional but for the gemology hobbyist. Both the professional and the novice have one thing in common, the need for a high quality...

Crystals are minerals solidified into polyhedral geometrical forms through atomic-level chemical interactions.

Labradorite is the common name for a mineral with the chemical composition calcium sodium aluminum silicate. The mineral was first identified on the Labrador Peninsula of Canada, but different...

Plate tectonics are among the most influential forces that shape Earth. The Earth's surface is not a single, solid mass but is instead made up of many plates, each one slowly sliding on top of the...

Mount Etna is Europe's largest and most active volcano. It is characterized by frequent emissions of lava, gas and ash that, in general, pose little danger to the population surrounding its slopes.

Millions of years ago, sea animals died. Their skeletons fell to the ocean floor where over time they turned into limestone. This limestone lies deep beneath the ground near travertine terraces....