Mineral Specimen Menu:
Minerals are defined by five criteria: 1. Naturally Occurring, 2. Inorganic, 3. Solid, 4. Defined Chemical (Atomic) Formula, and 5. A unique set of physical properties.
Minerals are grouped and classified by their chemical composition. Click on the group name or image below to see the individual specimen and their definition.
Click here to see my mineral teaching display.
Click here to see the Mohs Hardness Scale.
Native Elements
Sulfides
Halides
Carbonates
Oxides
Hydroxides
Sulfates
Phosphates
Borates
Arsenates
Vanadates
Molybdates
Silicates
-are compounds in which metallic elements combine with either single or linked Si-O terahedra (SiO4). Structurally, silicates are divided into six classes: Nesilicates, Sorosilicates, Cyclosilicates, Inosilicates, Phylosilicates and Tectosilicates.
Silicates are the largest and most abundant class of minerals, while primary silicates are the main constituents of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Nesosilicates
Sorosilicates
Cyclosilicates
Inosilicates
Phyllosilicates
Tectosilicates
Aluminosilicates
Data: Pellant, Chris. Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks and Minerals, The clearest recognition guides avaiable. A Dorling Kindersley Book.