Different minerals and how they

are classified
These specimens are based off of
Northglenn High School mineral
collections
 Native Elements
Name: Gold
Element symbol: Au
Soft: 2.5-3
 Native Elements
Name: Copper
Element symbol: Cu
Soft: 2.5-3
 Native Elements
Name: Graphite
Element symbol: C
Very Soft: 1-2
Side note: diamonds are also carbon and they
are the hardest, a 10
 Native Elements
Name: Sulfur
Element symbol: S
Very Soft to soft: 1.5-2.5
 Silicates
Name: Quartz
Chemical Composition: SiO2
Very Hard: 7
Very Common
 Silicates
Name: Talc
Chemical Composition: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
Very Soft: 1
Very Common
Greasy Feel
 Silicates
Name: Muscovite (Mica)
Chemical Composition: KAL2(AlSi3)O10(OH)2
Soft: 2-2.25
Very Common
 Silicates
Name: Biotite (Mica)
Chemical Composition:
K(Mg,Fe)3(Al,Fe)Si3O10(OH,F)2
Soft: 2-2.25
Very Common
 Silicates
Name: Kaolinite
Chemical Composition: Al2Si2O5(OH)4
Soft: 2-2.5
Very Common
 Silicates
Name: Orthoclase
Chemical Composition: KAlSi3O8
Hard: 6
Very Common
 Silicates
Name: Topaz
Chemical Composition: Al2SiO4(F,OH)2
Very Hard: 8
Very Common
 Silicates
Name: Almandine (Garnet Group)
Chemical Composition: Fe3Al2(SiO4)3
Very Hard: 6.5-7.5 (heavy)
Common
 Silicates
Name: Hornblend (Amphibole Group)
Chemical Composition: (CA,Na)2-3(Mg,Fe+2,
Fe+3,Al)5(Al,Si)8O22(OH)2
Hard: 5-6 (heavy)
Very Common
 Oxides
Name: Magnetite
Chemical Composition: Fe+2Fe+ 3 2O4
Hard: 5.5-6.5 (heavy)
Very Common
 Oxides
Name: Corundum
Chemical Composition: Al2O3
Very Hard: 9** (heavy)
Common (Also known as Rubies and
Sapphires)
 Oxides
Name: Hematite (Iron Oxide)
Chemical Composition: Fe2O3
Hard: 5.5-6.5 (Very heavy)
Common
 Oxides
Name: Bauxite general term for rock
composed of hydrated aluminum oxide
Chemical Composition: FeO(Oh)
Soft: 1-3 (light)
Very Common
 Sulfides
Name: Pyrite
Chemical Composition: FeS2
Hard: 5.5 (Very heavy)
Common
 Sulfides
Name: Molybdenite
Chemical Composition: MoS2
Very soft: 1-1.5 (heavy)
Rare
 Sulfides
Name: Galena
Chemical Composition: PbS
Soft: 2.5-2.8 (very heavy)
Very common
 Sulfides
Name: Sphalerite (Zinc iron sulfide)
Chemical Composition: (ZN,Fe)S
Semi Hard: 3.5-4 (heavy)
Very common
 Sulfates
Name: Barite (Barium Sulfate)
Chemical Composition: BaSO4
Semi Hard: 2.5-3.5 (very heavy)
Common
 Sulfates
Name: Gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate)
Chemical Composition: CaSO4 (H2O)2
Soft: 2 (light) Perfect cleavage
Very Common
 Sulfates
Name: Selenite (hydrated calcium sulfate)
Chemical Composition: CaSO4 (H2O)2
Soft: 2 (light) Perfect cleavage
Very Common
 Halides
Name: Halite (rock salt)
Chemical Composition: NaCl
Soft: 2.5 (very light)
Very Common
 Halides
Name: Fluorite
Chemical Composition: CaF2
Semi Hard: 4 (Heavy)
Very Common
 Carbonates
Name: Calcite (Calcium Carbonate)
Chemical Composition: CaCO3
Semi Hard: 3 (light) (fizzes in acid)
Very common
 Carbonates
Name: Aragonite (Calcium Carbonate)
Chemical Composition: CaCO3
Semi Hard: 3 (light) (fizzes in acid)
Very common
 Carbonates
Name: Dolomite
Chemical Composition: CaMg(CO3)2
Semi Hard: 3.5-4 (light) (fizzes in acid)
Very common
 Carbonates
Name: Malachite
Chemical Composition: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Semi Hard: 3.5-4 (heavy)
Common
 Carbonates
Name: Rhodochrosite
Chemical Composition: MnCO3
Semi Hard: 3.5-4.5 (heavy)
Common
 Phosphates
Name: Apatite
Chemical Composition: A5(XO4)3(F,Cl,OH)
A=Ca, Sr, Pb, Na, K X= P, As, V, Si
Hard: 5 (heavy)
Very Common
 Phosphates
Name: Vanadinite
Chemical Composition: Pb5(VO4)3Cl
Soft: 2.75-3 (very heavy)
Rare
Mineraloid