Rocks & Minerals

The word "mineral" is derived from the word "mine" because most minerals are mined from the Earth's crust. There are many common minerals, such as aluminum, potassium and iron. These are fairly...

Although they rarely take notice, people are surrounded by minerals every day. In fact, all rocks are made out of a combination of 2 or more minerals. Interestingly, it is not possible to have...

Refined salt, or table salt, undergoes refining to remove minerals and impurities. It contains sodium chloride (97.5 to 99.9 percent) and additives, such as iodine. Unrefined sea salt contains...

Rocks are one of the most amazing historical representations of our planet. Some rocks are valuable, such as lapis lazuli, amber and jet. But it is actually pieces of mineral that become...

Aventurine is a type of quartz, which is the planet's most common kind of mineral. Aventurine can be opaque or translucent and comes in various colors.

Minerals can be useful and beautiful. They are used to make metals and other substances, but they can also be cut and polished as crystals to make gems such as diamonds. Minerals typically appear...

All gems are crystals, but not all crystals are gems. It takes a special type of stone to become a valuable gem.

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...

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...

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...

Gold is one of the most precious metals and is sought after by many. Because there are many other minerals that might resemble gold, knowing what real gold looks like is essential to identifying...

A well is a hole that has been dug, drilled or bored into the earth deeply enough to reach the groundwater that can be found in the underlying aquifers. Rain water and snow seep through the ground...

Minerals and crystals are formed deep beneath the earth's crust, rising upward with the passage of time and geologic activity. It is possible to produce synthetics; most crystals found in museums...

The aquamarine is a precious gem that jewelers designate as the birthstone of the month of March. Aquamarines range from a pale shade of blue to a more vibrant hue of blue and are hard enough to...

Chemical weathering requires a reaction between a mineral and elements in the environment to change the structure of the mineral. Factors that contribute to weathering include the climate and the...

Often found in North America, Central America, South America and Namibia, and a common sight in museum gift shops, geodes are rock formations that involve a variety of minerals. At its most basic,...

Alkalinity in the human body is created in a couple ways, the most predominant being diet. Most western diets consist mostly of acidic foods that can actually help make a person sick if eaten...

Staking a gold or silver mine claim or a claim for any minerals there is a simple procedure in place. You cannot file a claim on privately owned land. It should be on land in 19 states with...

A streak test is one tool that geologists use to determine the identity of a mineral. The “streak” is the color of the mineral in powdered form. Some minerals will have a streak color that is...

Tourmaline refers to a large group of minerals with similar crystal structures and varying chemical compositions. They occur in every color. Very few tourmalines are suitable as gemstones, thus...

Quartz is a very common mineral for mineral collectors or rockhounds to collect. Due to its many varieties, quartz is one of the most abundant minerals found in the earth's crust. Quartz is made...

Apatite is a term that refers to a group of minerals, including bromapatite, fluorapatite, hydroxyapatite and chlorapatite, with fluorapatite being the most common of these. They have a range of...

The earth is full of minerals. Some of these minerals have health benefits, while others are desired for their rarity and beauty. Drusys are collected for their beauty. Sometimes referred to as...

Whether you want to sell some minerals on eBay or just want to keep track of your mineral collection, taking photographs of your mineral specimens is an important job. Accurate pictures will make...

Kyanite is a mineral with versatile properties that make it useful in a wide range of industrial and artistic endeavors. It is a blue crystal resembling a sapphire that is created by when two...

Rubies are one of the most well-known precious gemstones, with references in history dating to the Bible and ancient Sanskrit writings. Rubies are a corundum, a family of minerals that also...

The minerals found in salt water include sodium chloride, calcite and others that can solidify and form rocks in the ocean. Identify minerals in salt water with information from a geology...

Identifying rock-forming minerals is best done using an illustrated guide that outlines the characteristics of each. Understand the formation of each mineral to better identify it with information...

Different types of sand are produced through the weathering process of various rocks and minerals. Find out how various types of sand are created with information from a geology professor in this...

Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances. Graphite, like most minerals, is a compound of elements. Specifically, graphite is formed by a bond of carbon atoms. Identifying minerals is...

Rubies are only created when very specific minerals are combined together, the most necessary of which is corundum. Corundum occurs when aluminum oxide undergoes a process referred to as...

Zeolite is a category of mineral which carries a specific set of characteristics. These minerals are porous and have the capability to absorb, be used as molecular sieves, and have catalytic and...

Geodes are rough normally round rocks that have crystals inside. The crystals that form vary depending on what minerals are nearby or were trapped within when the rock was formed. Minerals can...

Crystals are precisely formed solids that result from geometrically arranged atoms. Viewing crystals, one literally sees the atomic structure of the minerals that formed the crystals. With...

Translucent rocks are rocks that a person can see through, and they are typically made up of minerals or crystals that are translucent themselves. Find out why some semi-precious stones are...

Titanium is a light metal and the ninth most common element in the crust of the Earth. Titanium possesses properties that give it great strength. It is primarily used as an alloy, combined with...

Minerals most easily form in water. This is because the volume of water has a limited capacity for atoms. As the volume of water decreases due to evaporation from the sun or heat, the space...

The earth is filled with plants, animals and minerals. Minerals are the nonliving resources that we mine and fight over. We commonly consider minerals to be rocks; however, four criteria must be...

Pyrotechnics are just another word for fireworks. They can be built with a few simple minerals and ingredients, though making them should be attempted only by adults with experience working with...

Open pit mining, also known as strip mining, is the practice of extracting minerals in open air. While most mining is done underground or deep into the mountains, open pit mines require no...

Minerals are crystalline natural substances that formed as a result of geological actions. They have many uses in our everyday life, for example, nutritional supplements for health, gems in...

Gold, silver and gems often occur in coarse-grained rocks like granite, which is made of mostly lighter minerals like quartz and feldspar. Panning is a method of separating the lighter from...

The first principle for identifying common minerals is, "Rocks and minerals are not the same thing." Every rock contains two or more different minerals, and the various mineral combinations are...

If you’re interested in prospecting for commercial deposits of precious metals or other mineral materials on Federal land, you should be aware of the abundant requirements, paperwork and costs...

Apache tears are said to have originated when the tears of grieving Apache women fell and froze after a battle with great loss of life. It is said that anyone who carries Apache tears will never...

Chrysoberyl assists you in striving for excellence. It brings increased self-confidence by helping you to understand that you already have all that you need within yourself to succeed. Chrysoberyl...

The key to identifying rocks is first to identify the minerals that compose them. Geologists and students should begin with the most obvious type of rock. Follow these steps to help you identify...

If you have a mineral collection, you will likely need to read the mineral chart as a part of your hobby. The mineral chart depicts specific characteristics for each type of mineral, and you can...

There are many types of minerals, with several bearing a strikingly similar appearance to each other. Some minerals have a higher market value than others based on a certain set of...

You may be a rock hound if you pick up rocks on vacation as souvenirs, you have a rock paper weight on your desk, or if your flowerbed has a huge rock for a conversation piece. If you fit any of...