Rob's Minerals Page

Here is a list of minerals I have collected - see the key below. I have focused on the chief ore(s) of each element. The organizational framework is a Periodic Table rotated 90 degrees clockwise - Rows are Groups, from Group 1 at top, to Group 16; Group 17 - Halogens - omitted; Group 18 - Noble Gasses - omitted. Columns are Periods, from Period 6 on left to Period 2 on right; Period 1 - Hydrogen and Helium - omitted; Period 7 - all radioactive - omitted. Transition Metals in Groups 3-12 only in Periods 6-4.

Key

Gases
Radioactive
- Hazardous when uncombined [some even hazardous in ores]
Group 1 - Alkali Metals
Group 2 - Alkaline Earths
Rare Earths
Groups 3-12 - Transition Metals
- major industrial metals - global production >~3x10⁷ kg/year (33K tons/yr)
{ Al, Mg, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn, Mo, Sn, Sb, W, Pb }
Platinum Group
Other Metals
Metalloids { B, Si, Ge, As, Sb, Te, Po }
Non-metals { C, N, O, P, S, Se }
- Known to the ancients - { Fe, Au, Ag, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sn, Sb, C, S }
the only elements known until about 1000A.D. -
common and inert enough to be found in native form
- Known to alchemists by 1760 - { Co, Pt, Ni, Zn, Bi, As, P }
abundance, notes
main ore - have sample
main ore - don't have sample
mineral - have sample
mineral - don't have sample
- I have a cube or block of this; ##.## is density
- density > Pb
- density < Al
- I have a rough sample of this
- I have a sample crystal of this
- I have a tumbled sample of this
(?) - I need to find my sample and confirm its form

Mineral Classification - the Dana System
organized by anion

Native Elements
Silicates - SiO4

sub-classed by structure, not chemistry

Oxides - O and OH
Sulfides - S

includes selenides Se, tellurides Te, antimonides Sb, arsenides As, bismuthinides Bi
includes sulfosalts
arsenide sulfide - AsS
antimony sulfide - SbS

Sulfates - SO4

includes chromates, tungstates, selenates, tellurates, molybdenates - CrO4, WO4, SeO4, TeO4, MoO4
includes Sulfites - SO3 etc.

Halides - F, Cl, I, Br
Carbonates - CO3

Nitrates - NO3
Borates - BO3, B3O4, B4O7, B7O13

Phosphates - PO4, AsO4, VO4, SbO4
Mineraloids - e.g. Opal, Jet, Amber

SiO

O/OH

SO4

F/Cl

CO3

PO4

Prd =>	6	5	4	3	2
1	55 Cs 1.87	37 Rb 1.63	19 K 1.78	11 Na 0.97	3 Li 0.53
2	56 Ba 3.59	38 Sr 2.54	20 Ca 1.55	12 Mg 1.74	4 Be 1.85
[L]	57 - 71
3	71 Lu 9.84	39 Y 4.47	21 Sc 3.00
4	72 Hf 13.31	40 Zr 6.51	22 Ti 4.54
5	73 Ta 16.65	41 Nb 8.57	23 V 6.11
6	74 W 19.35	42 Mo 10.22	24 Cr 7.19
7	75 Re 21.04	43 Tc 11.5	25 Mn 7.43
8	76 Os 22.59	44 Ru 12.37	26 Fe 7.87
9	77 Ir 22.56	45 Rh 12.41	27 Co 8.9
10	78 Pt 21.45	46 Pd 12.02	28 Ni 8.9
11	79 Au 19.32	47 Ag 10.5	29 Cu 8.96
12	80 Hg 13.55	48 Cd 8.65	30 Zn 7.14
13	81 Tl 11.85	49 In 7.31	31 Ga 5.91	13 Al 2.70	5 B 2.34
14	82 Pb 11.35	50 Sn 7.31	32 Ge 5.32	14 Si 2.33	6 C 2.26
15	83 Bi 9.75	51 Sb 6.68	33 As 5.72	15 P 1.82	7 N
16	84 Po 9.3	52 Te 4.93	34 Se 4.79	16 S 2.07	8 O

Prd =>	6	5	4	3	2
1	55 Cs 1.87 reacts violently with water releasing hydrogen gas and igniting it - metal will catch fire on exposure to air MP 29C cesium clock is standard measure of time pollucite (Cs,Na,Rb)2 Al2Si4O12 * 2H2O (small cabinet sample on rough substrate) pollucite Cs(Si2Al)O6 * nH2O forms series with analcime NaAlSi2O6 * H2O eudialyte	37 Rb 1.63 reacts violently with water releasing hydrogen gas and igniting it - metal will catch fire on exposure to air as abundant as zinc and more common than copper Substitutes for K in lepidolite (contains 0.3%-3.5% Rb and is main ore) - see Lithium pollucite - see Cesium	19 K 1.78 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 reacts violently with water releasing hydrogen gas and igniting it 7th in crust 2.6% sylvite KCl langbeinite K2Mg2 (SO4)3 sylvinite KCl * NaCl carnallite KMgCl3 * 6H2O fuchsite K(Al,Cr)3 Si3O10 (OH)2 apophyllite (K,Na)Ca4 Si8O20 (F,OH) * 8H2O (nice point) green apophyllite sugilite muscovite (white mica) KAl2 (AlSi3O10) (F,OH)2 (2 crystals in drawer) biotite (black mica) (in drawer) mica nodule (phlogopite) (in cabinet) amazonite K AlSi3O8 astro - phyllite (K,Na)3 (Fe++,Mn)7 Ti2Si8O24 (O,OH)7 non mineral K2O, KOH, K2S, K2SO4, potash K2CO3, many phosphates	11 Na 0.97 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 reacts violently with water releasing hydrogen gas and igniting it 6th in crust 2.8% Halite NaCl cryolite Na3AlF6 sodalite Na4 Al3 Si3O12 Cl dawsonite Na Al CO3 (OH)2 (?) plagioclase - feldspar (moonstone) jade pectolite NaCa2 Si3O8 OH stilbite Na3Ca3 Al8Si28O72 * 30H2O analcime Na AlSi2O6 * H2O natrolite Na2 Al2Si3O10 * 2H2O albite Na AlSi3O8 labradorite (Ca,Na) (Si,Al)4 O8 elbaite Na(Li,Al)3 Al6(BO3)3 Si6O18 (OH)4 rubellite schorl (tourmaline) thenardite Na2SO4 nitratine NaNO3 nahcolite NaHCO3 (baking soda) non mineral Na2O (SOX), lye NaOH, Na2S, soda ash Na2CO3, many sodium phosphates e.g. Na3PO4	3 Li 0.53 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 lightest metal by far; reacts vigorously with water releasing hydrogen gas only 13 Li minerals known LiCO3 brines zabuyelite Li2CO3 Spodumene LiAl (SiO3)2 (may be clear, white, gray, yellow, pink-lilac-violet, green, rarely light blue - colors due to elements substituting for Al - Fe makes yellow to green, Cr makes deep green, Mn makes pink to lilac) white spodumene clear spodumene kunzite (pink spodumene) hiddenite (green spodumene) lepidolite KLi2 AlSi4O10 F (OH) petalite LiAl (Si2O5)2 (can be clear, white, gray, pink, yellow) petalite - clear pink petalite amblygonite (Li,Na) Al[(F,OH) \| (PO4)] (?) eucryptite LiAl SiO4 cookeite LiAl5 Si3O10 (OH)8 diomignite Li2B4O7 kickerite Li2O non mineral lithine LiOH non mineral Li2S non mineral Li2SO4 non mineral LiF, LiCl triphylite Li (Fe, Mn) PO4 lithio philite Li (Mn, Fe) PO4
2	56 Ba 3.59 barite (or baryte) BaSO4 witherite BaCO3 romanèchite or psilomelane (Ba,H2O)2 * Mn5O10 benitoite BaTi Si3O9	38 Sr 2.54 blue celestite SrSO4 (lg crystal in cabinet) strontianite SrCO3 (?) weloganite Sr3Na2Zr (CO3)6 * 3H2O (tiny crystal in drawer)	20 Ca 1.55 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 5th in crust 3.6% calcite CaCO3 optical (clear) calcite - Iceland Spar brown calcite mangano - calcite (pink) red calcite pink calcite honey calcite golden calcite orange calcite blue calcite sand calcite aragonite CaCO3 aragonite crystal blue aragonite brown banded aragonite anhydrite CaSO4 (anhydrous) light blue "angel wing" xl gypsum CaSO4 * 2H2O 4 varieties of gypsum: selenite satin spar desert rose aka selenite rose (?) gypsum flower fluorite CaF2 clear fluorite octahedron blue fluorite tri-color fluorite yellow fluorite purple fluorite apatite Ca10 (PO4)6 (OH,F,Cl)2 hydroxyl - apatite fluor - apatite chlor - apatite datolite CaB SiO4 (OH) (polished slab) also (?) grossular-garnet (?) vesuvianite (idocrase) Ca10 (Mg, Fe)2 Al4 (SiO4)5 (Si2O7)2 (OH,F)4 prehnite Ca2 Al2 Si3O12 (OH) epidote Ca2 Al2 (Fe,Al) (SiO4) (Si2O7) O(OH) actinolite Ca2 (Mg ,Fe) Si8O22 (OH)2 (in quartz) (in talc) axinite Ca2 (Fe++, Mn++. Mg) Al2BO3 Si4O12 (OH) non mineral lime CaO, CaCl2 (highly soluble in H2O) portlandite Ca(OH)2 (slaked lime) oldhamite (Ca,Mg,Fe)S	12 Mg 1.74 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 8th in crust 2.1% least dense common safe metal dolomite CaCO3 * MgCO3 magnesite MgCO3 (cauliflower) brucite Mg(OH)2 carnallite KMgCl3 * 6H2O olivine (Mg++, Fe++)2 SiO4 spinel Mg Al2O4 (?) talc Mg3 Si4O10 (OH)2 diopside MgCa Si2O6 stichtite Mg6Cr2 CO3 (OH)16 * 4H2O magnesia / periclase MgO niningerite MgS kieserite MgSO4 * H2O epsomite MgSO4 * 7H2O sellaite MgF2 bischofite MgCl2 * 6H2O bobierrite Mg3 (PO4)2 * 8H2O	4 Be 1.85 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 bertrandite (Tiffany stone) Be4 Si2O7 (OH)2 beryl Be3 Al2 (SiO3)6 colors derive from trace metals: Fe for aquamarine and golden beryl, Cr (sometimes V) for green beryl and emerald, Cs and Li for pezzottaite (raspberry beryl), and Mn for morganite and red beryl aquamarine blue beryl goshenite (clear beryl) heliodor (green beryl) morganite (pink beryl) herderite CaBe PO4 (OH,F) (?) beryllonite NaBe PO4 (lg in disp) hambergite Be2 BO3 OH milarite K2Ca4 Al2 Be4 Si24O60 * H2O (?) phenakite Be2 SiO4 (?) euclase BeAl SiO4 (OH) (small) chrysoberyl BeAl2O4 bromellite BeO (rare) non mineral Be(OH)2, BeS, BeSO4 * 4H2O, BeF2 BeCl2 (highly soluble in H2O), BeCO3 (unstable)
[L]	57 - 71
3	71 Lu 9.84 monazite rare earth phosphate (La,Ce, ...) PO4	39 Y 4.47 occurs in nearly all rare earth minerals monazite bastnaesite (REE)(CO3)F euxenite (Y,Ca,Ce,U,Th) (Nb,Ta,Ti)2 O6 xenotime YPO4 fergusonite YNbO4	21 Sc 3.00 rare mineral: thortveitite (Sc,Y)2Si2O7
4	72 Hf 13.31 zircon alvite (Hf,Th,Zr) SiO4	40 Zr 6.51 zircon ZrSiO4 baddeleyite zirconia ZrO2	22 Ti 4.54 9th in crust rutile alpha TiO2 ilmenite FeTiO3 leucoxene anatase beta TiO2 titanite (sphene) CaTiSiO5 brookite
5	73 Ta 16.65 causes no immune response - used in surgical appliances tantalite (Fe,Mn) * Ta2O6 (ferro - tantalite) also (?) microlite (Ca,Na)2 Ta2O6 (O,OH,F) (?) tantite Ta2O5	41 Nb 8.57 columbite (Fe,Mn) (Nb,Ta)2 O6 (?) pyrochlore (Na,Ca)2 Nb2 O6 (OH,F)	23 V 6.11 recovered from petroleum residues vanadinite (PbCl) * Pb4(VO4)3 vanadinite - red vanadinite - green (xls on matrix) patronite VS4 carnotite K2(UO2)2 V2O8 * 3(H2O) (?) cavansite Ca(VO) Si4O10 * 4H2O
6	74 W 19.35 MP 3414C - highest denser than Uranium 19.1 and Gold 19.32 scheelite CaWO4 huebnerite MnWO4 ferberite FeWO4 Stolzite PbWO4 Tungstenite WS2 (rare, sm xls) wolframite (Fe,Mn) WO4	42 Mo 10.22 molybdenite MoS2 (in quartz) wulfenite PbMoO4 powellite CaMoO4 molybdite MoO3 (rare)	24 Cr 7.19 chromite FeCr2 O4 crocoite PbCrO4 fuchsite K(Al,Cr)3 Si3O10 (OH)2 - see K uvarovite Ca3Cr2 (SiO4)3 (?)
7	75 Re 21.04 rare - does not occur free in nature or as a compound in a mineral flue dusts of molybdenum smelters	43 Tc 11.5 no stable isotopes - info	25 Mn 7.43 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 [native] hausmannite Mn++ Mn+++2 O4 pyrolusite MnO2 braunite Mn++ Mn+++6 SiO12 manganite MnO(OH) rhodo - chrosite MnCO3 rhodonite (Mn++, Fe++, Mg, Ca) SiO3 spessartine Mn3Al2 (SiO4)3 (?) sugilite KNa2 (Fe+++, Mn+++, Al)2 Li3 Si12O30 purpurite (Mn+++, Fe+++) PO4 bixbyite (Mn+++, Fe+++)2 O3 (perky) alabandite Mn++S hauerite MnS2 (rare, sm xls) szmikite MnSO4 * H2O jokokuite MnSO4 * 5H2O mallardite MnSO4 * 7H2O non mineral Mn++F2, Mn+++F3, Mn++++F4 scacchite MnCl2 kempite Mn2Cl (OH)3 arsenoclasite Mn++5 [(OH)2 \| AsO4]2
8	76 Os 22.59 as rare as Au; can be found as free metal; densest element (2x Pb) obtained from wastes of nickel refining	44 Ru 12.37 very rare obtained from wastes of nickel refining [native] pentlandite pyroxinite	26 Fe 7.87 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 4th most abundant element in crust 5% iron + carbon (1.5%) = steel steel + chromium = stainless steel hematite Fe2O3 magnetite Fe3O4 siderite FeCO3 goethite Fe+++O (OH) (polished botryoidal w/ tumbles) staurolite (crosses) Fe++2 Al9O6 (SiO4)4 (O,OH)2 pyrite FeS2 marcasite FeS2 (in calcite) pyrrhotite Fe(1-x)S x=0 to .17 vivianite Fe3(PO4)2 * 8H2O phospho - siderite Fe+++ PO4 * 2H2O limonite FeO(OH) * nH2O scorodite Fe+++ AsO4 * 2H2O rock - bridgeite (Fe,Mn) Fe4 (PO4)3 (OH)5 (perky) almandine Fe3Al2 (SiO4)3 rozenite (aka green vitriol) Fe++ SO4 * 4H2O melanterite (iron analogue of copper sulfate chalcanthite) Fe++ SO4 * 7H2O siderotil Fe++ SO4 * 5H2O molysite Fe+++Cl3 non mineral ferric fluoride Fe+++F3
9	77 Ir 22.56 very rare - can be found as free metal; most corrosion-resistant material known obtained from wastes of nickel refining	45 Rh 12.41 rarest of all non-radioactive metals obtained from wastes of nickel refining	27 Co 8.9 cobaltite CoAsS smaltite (Co, Fe, Ni) As2 skutterudite (Co, Fe, Ni) As2-3 erythrite Co3 (AsO4)2 * 8(H2O)
10	78 Pt 21.45 [native] sperrylite PtAs2 cooperite PtS	46 Pd 12.02 hydrogen diffuses through it obtained from wastes of nickel refining	28 Ni 8.9 pentlandite (Fe,Ni)9S8 (rare) pyrrhotite - see Fe garnierite (Ni,Mg)4 Si6O15 (OH)2 * 6(H2O) nickeline (aka niccolite) NiAs millerite NiS (?) breithauptite NiSb (?) ullmannite NiSbS annabergite Ni3 (AsO4)2 * 8H2O
11	79 Au 19.32 rare highest malleability and ductility of any element [native] electrum calaverite sylvanite petzite	47 Ag 10.5 acanthite Ag2S [native wire] pyrargyrite Ag3SbS3 proustite Ag3AsS3 cerargyrite	29 Cu 8.96 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 Cu probably the first metal mined by humans - beads dating from 6000BCE found in Turkey copper + zinc = brass 8.4-8.73 copper + tin = bronze [native] chalcopyrite CuFeS2 chalcocite Cu2S enargite Cu3AsS4 bornite Cu5FeS4 (perky) malachite Cu2CO3 (OH)2 (lg botryoidal in cabinet) azurite Cu3(CO3)2 (OH)2 azurite with malachite azurite in K2 jasper/granite rosasite (Cu, Zn)2 CO3 (OH)2 chyrsocolla (Cu,Al)2 H2 Si2O5 (OH)4 * n(H2O) cuprite Cu2O (in drawer) cuprite and chryso - colla "Sonora Sunset" covellite CuS (2 cabs, tumble, rough) spangolite Cu6 Al(SO4) (OH)12Cl * 3H2O (?) tetra - hedrite Cu12 Sb4S13 chalc - anthite CuSO4 * 5H2O (sm lt blue-green xls on substrate - drawer; bright blue xls in matrix; lg artificial xls) dioptase CuSiO2 (OH)2 atacamite Cu2Cl (OH)3 turquoise CuAl6 (PO4)4 (OH)8 * 5H2O nantokite CuCl cornetite Cu3 PO4 (OH)3 libethenite Cu2 PO4 (OH) pseudo - malachite Cu5 (PO4)2 (OH)4
12	80 Hg 13.55 MP -39C cinnabar HgS cinnabite (cinnabar in calcite)	48 Cd 8.65 byproduct of zinc mining greenockite CdS is the only mineral containing significant quantities	30 Zn 7.14 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 sphalerite (aka zincblende) (Zn,Fe)S root beer sphalerite smithsonite ZnCO3 blue-green smithsonite pink smithsonite hemi - morphite Zn4 Si2O7 (OH)2 hemi - morphite - botryoidal zincite (Zn,Mn)O (sm) adamite Zn2 (AsO4) OH legrandite (rare) Zn2 (AsO4) (OH) * (H2O) goslarite (white vitriol) ZnSO4 * 7H2O non mineral ZnF2, ZnCl2 (deli - quescent) simonkolleite (v. rare) Zn5 (OH)8 Cl2 * H2O
13	81 Tl 11.85 very toxic recovered from processing Cu, Pb, and Zn ores	49 In 7.31 rare byproduct of zinc processing cylindrite (xls in matrix)	31 Ga 5.91 MP 30C - melts in the hand byproduct of zinc and alumina processing trace amounts in: diaspore, sphalerite, germanite, bauxite, coal	13 Al 2.70 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 3rd most abundant element in crust 8.1% MP 660C bauxite (not a mineral) (?) gibbsite Al(OH)3 boehmite γ AlO(OH) diaspore α AlO(OH) corundum (ruby) Al2O3 kyanite Al2SiO5 blue kyanite blue-green kyanite green kyanite black kyanite topaz Al2SiO4 (F,OH)2 white/blue topaz blue topaz silver (yellow) topaz variscite AlPO4 * 2H2O wavellite Al3 (PO4)2 (OH,F)3 * 5H2O (xls in matrix) pyrophyllite Al2 Si4O10 (OH)2 (xls in matrix) dawsonite Na Al CO3 (OH)2 (see sodium) (?) aluminite Al2 (SO4) (OH)4 * 7H2O alunite KAl3 (SO4)2 (OH)6 there are many compound aluminum sulfates alunogen / alunogenite [Al (H2O)6]2 (SO4)3 * 5H2O rosenbergite AlF3 * 3H2O non mineral Al2S3, AlCl3	5 B 2.34 borax Na2B4O5 * (OH)4 * 8H2O colemanite Ca2B6O11 * 5H2O (xls on matrix, in cabinet) kernite Na2B4O6 (drawer) ulexite (TV stone) NaCaB5O9 * 8H2O ref. boranes
14	82 Pb 11.35 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 MP 327C 75% lead + 20% antimony + 5% tin = type metal galena PbS cerussite PbCO3 anglesite PbSO4 pyro - morphite Pb5 (PO4)3 Cl (tiny yellow-green xls on substrate) vanadinite (see vanadium) mimetite Pb5 (AsO4)3 Cl (?) pietersite (chalcedony with embedded fibers of amphibole minerals) bournonite PbCu SbS3 linarite PbCu SO4 (OH)2 phosgenite (PbCl)2 CO3 simple lead silicates: alamosite PbO SiO2, barysilite (PbO)3 (SiO2)2 or Pb8Mn (Si2O7)3 compound lead silicates: from Franklin Mine NJ - e.g. esperite Ca3PbZn4 (SiO4)4, larsenite PbZn SiO4 litharge, massicot Pb++O cotunnite PbCl2 non mineral Pb(OH)2, PbF2	50 Sn 7.31 SiO O/OH S SO4 F/Cl CO3 PO4 MP 232C - lowest of common safe metals 75% tin + 25% lead = pewter 82% tin + 14% antimony + 4% copper = bearing metal cassiterite SnO2 cylindrite Pb3Sn4Fe Sb2S14 herzenbergite SnS teallite PbSnS2 stannite Cu2FeSnS4 malayaite CaSnO [SiO4] pabstite Ba (Sn, Ti) Si3O9 non mineral SnSO4 (deli - quescent), SnF2, SnCl2, SnCO3, Sn3 (PO4)2	32 Ge 5.32 ores very rare zinc smelter flue dust germanite Cu3 (Ge,Fe) (S,As)4 argyrodite Ag8GeS6	14 Si 2.33 2nd most abundant element in crust 27.7% quartz SiO2 rutilated quartz amethyst agate (many varieties!) tiger's eye chalcedony geodes aventurine blue aventurine green aventurine red aventurine yellow aventurine peach aventurine moissanite SiC	6 C 2.26 [native] graphite shungite , also cube diamond limestone
15	83 Bi 9.75 byproduct of lead processing bismuthinite Bi2S3 bismite Bi2O3 galeno - bismutite PbBi2S4 manmade [native]	51 Sb 6.68 stibnite Sb2S3 (lg in cabinet) stibiconite Sb+++ Sb+++++2 O6(OH) (?) valentinite Sb2O3	33 As 5.72 arseno - pyrite FeAsS realgar As4S4 (red) orpiment As2S3 (yellow) loellingite FeAs2 (small)	15 P 1.82 The 1st element to be chemically discovered, in 1669, prepared from urine apatite group - see Ca hydroxyl - apatite fluor - apatite chlor - apatite	7 N air 78%
16	84 Po 9.3	52 Te 4.93 rare - contact makes bad odors! recovered in processing Cu ores [native] tellurite TeO2 sylvanite AgAuTe4 Tetradymite Bi2Te3	34 Se 4.79 MP 217C rare recovered from Cu processing [native] clausthalite PbSe crookesite Cu7 (Tl,Ag) Se4 eucairite CuAgSe berzelianite Cu2Se umangite Cu3Se2	16 S 2.07 sulfuric acid is the most important industrial chemical desulfurizing natural gas and petroleum [native] pyrite (fools' gold) FeS2 - see Fe	8 O most abundant element in Earth's crust 46.6% air 21%