Minerals and Mineralogy
Minerals, mineral identification and mineralogy.
Gallery of Feldspars
Get to know this family of common minerals.
Get to know this family of common minerals.
Quartz Gallery
Familiarize yourself with this most common mineral.
Familiarize yourself with this most common mineral.
Minerals with Metallic Luster
This distinctive set of minerals is easy to master.
This distinctive set of minerals is easy to master.
The Mineral Gallery
Dozens of different minerals, photographed and annotated.
Dozens of different minerals, photographed and annotated.
The Mohs Scale of Relative Mineral Hardness
Here are the ten standard minerals in the scale.
Here are the ten standard minerals in the scale.
The Giant Crystal Project
Thomas Krassmann is devoted to extra-large specimens of minerals; part of the extraordinary strahlen.org family of sites.
Thomas Krassmann is devoted to extra-large specimens of minerals; part of the extraordinary strahlen.org family of sites.
Ametrine
This highly unusual bicolored form of quartz—half citrine, half amethyst—is treated in detail by the Caltech Mineral Spectroscopy group.
This highly unusual bicolored form of quartz—half citrine, half amethyst—is treated in detail by the Caltech Mineral Spectroscopy group.
Amphibole Minerals
A photo gallery of amphibole minerals.
A photo gallery of amphibole minerals.
Asbestos, an Introduction
A look at this mineral product, which has gone from champ to chump in the 20th century, by your About Geology Guide.
A look at this mineral product, which has gone from champ to chump in the 20th century, by your About Geology Guide.
Calcite Clues
This common mineral is being used as a gauge of tectonic stress and strain.
This common mineral is being used as a gauge of tectonic stress and strain.
Diamond
This precious and useful mineral comes to us directly from the base of the lithosphere.
This precious and useful mineral comes to us directly from the base of the lithosphere.
Fluorite
A "geobits" online pamphlet by the Illinois State Geological Survey about this strategic mineral.
A "geobits" online pamphlet by the Illinois State Geological Survey about this strategic mineral.
Native Elements
A few intriguing minerals are actually pure elements: metals and nonmetals.
A few intriguing minerals are actually pure elements: metals and nonmetals.
Salt
An introduction to the geology of salt.
An introduction to the geology of salt.
Tantalite
An article on this strategic mineral and the scramble for it in central Africa.
An article on this strategic mineral and the scramble for it in central Africa.
Zircon, Zirconia, Zirconium Minerals
The zirconium minerals zircon, baddeleyite and zirconolite are a close family.
The zirconium minerals zircon, baddeleyite and zirconolite are a close family.
Rock-Forming Mineral Formulas
Formulas of the 11 most common minerals, which make up the great majority of the world's rocks.
Formulas of the 11 most common minerals, which make up the great majority of the world's rocks.
Mineral Habits
The various forms that minerals take in rocks.
The various forms that minerals take in rocks.
Minerals of the Earth's Surface
The thousands of minerals known in rocks become a mere handful at the Earth's surface.
The thousands of minerals known in rocks become a mere handful at the Earth's surface.
The Colors of Minerals
The Mineral Spectroscopy Group at Caltech presents a fascinating exploration of exactly which impurities create the colors in minerals. Profusely illustrated.
The Mineral Spectroscopy Group at Caltech presents a fascinating exploration of exactly which impurities create the colors in minerals. Profusely illustrated.
Minerals Under the Microscope
An excellent introduction to mineral optics and thin-section studies, from the University of Bristol in England.
An excellent introduction to mineral optics and thin-section studies, from the University of Bristol in England.
Twinned Minerals
This page from the Mineral Gallery site gives basic information on minerals that naturally form pairs (or triplets), with links to each one.
This page from the Mineral Gallery site gives basic information on minerals that naturally form pairs (or triplets), with links to each one.
Virtual Museum of Minerals and Molecules
You need a plug-in to see and manipulate the molecular models of common minerals from the University of Wisconsin, but the results are worth it.
You need a plug-in to see and manipulate the molecular models of common minerals from the University of Wisconsin, but the results are worth it.
Mindat.org Mineralogy Database
The largest mineral database and mineralogical reference site on the Web, with worldwide data on minerals, mineral localities and other mineralogical information.
The largest mineral database and mineralogical reference site on the Web, with worldwide data on minerals, mineral localities and other mineralogical information.
Database of Minerals
Created by David Barthelmy, webmineral.com lets you search for thousands of minerals by crystallography, classification, composition, color, or name. Good photos, too.
Created by David Barthelmy, webmineral.com lets you search for thousands of minerals by crystallography, classification, composition, color, or name. Good photos, too.
Quick Assays in Mineral Identification
Prof. Walter Franke of the Freie Universität Berlin produced this thorough guide (PDF) to something they don't teach at college any more: quick tests of minerals using blowpipe and simple chemistry-lab supplies.
Prof. Walter Franke of the Freie Universität Berlin produced this thorough guide (PDF) to something they don't teach at college any more: quick tests of minerals using blowpipe and simple chemistry-lab supplies.
Links for Mineralogists
This huge, well-organized list at the University of Würzburg has everything. It should always be your last resort, if not your first.
This huge, well-organized list at the University of Würzburg has everything. It should always be your last resort, if not your first.