A handful of very abundant minerals account for the great majority of the Earth's rocks. These rock-forming minerals are the ones that define the bulk chemistry of rocks and how rocks are classified. Other minerals are called accessory minerals. The rock-forming minerals are the ones you want to learn first.
Identification Key to the Rock-Forming Minerals
Chemical Formulas of the Rock-Forming Minerals
Special Galleries: Amphiboles, Feldspars, Quartz
Images 1-9 of 9
 Amphibole (Hornblende) |  Biotite Mica |  Calcite |  Dolomite |
 Feldspar (Orthoclase) |  Muscovite Mica |  Olivine |  Pyroxene (Augite) |
 Quartz |
- Graphic Index
- Text Index