How to Identify Crystals & Minerals
Crystals and minerals are basically the same thing. Crystal refers to the shape of the specimen, while mineral refers to the internal makeup, usually indicated by color. There are thousands of kinds of minerals and crystals, especially when colors and differences caused by impurities are taken into account.
Years of study from the most dedicated student would not result in the memorization of every crystal and mineral on earth. However, many geologists, rock enthusiasts and magical practitioners need at least a basic knowledge of these substances. They can acquire this by focusing on the general differences among crystal forms, instead of trying to identify them individually. Most crystals and minerals fit into one of several general categories.
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Things You'll Need
- Rock and mineral identification guide
- Several mineral and crystal specimens
- Notebook and pencil
Instructions
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1
Find several raw crystals. Raw is best because tumbled crystals no longer show the shape in which they grew in the earth. Raw crystals are not tumbled and show the natural growth patterns of the crystals. Good specimens are available at your local New Age Shop.
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2
Pick up each crystal and look at its shape. If you have a crystal cluster, choose the largest crystal to examine. Each crystal should have several faces. If all of the faces are the same width, the crystal is isometric. If two of the faces are at right angles with a longer third face, it is tetragonal. Hexagonal crystals have six faces and are shaped like pyramids. Check Mineral Matters from the San Diego Natural History Museum in References for a complete list of shapes.
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Look at the colors. See if the crystals have a metallic sheen like bronze, gold, silver or shiny peacock colors. Metallic crystals are usually ore, like copper, pyrite or nickel. Non-metallic colors indicate semi-precious stones like clear quartz, purple amethyst or dark red ruby.
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Heft each crystal in your hand and line them up from lightest to heaviest so you can keep track. Very heavy crystals are usually ores like hematite and pyrite while medium-heft crystals are stones like garnet and fluorite. Light stones indicate porous or brittle stones like selenite and gypsum.
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Write down the qualities of each crystal and look them up in your identification guide. Look for a good guide with color photographs and the minerals listed in alphabetical order. Smithsonian Handbooks publishes a handbook with large photographs and a long list of minerals.
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