Mineral 1.0Test your knowledge of specific minerals

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Minerals by class: Silicates | Halides | Carbonates | Sulfates | Oxides | Phosphates | Hydroxides | Native elements | Sulfides
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  SulfateBarite
BaSO4

Most distinguishing features:
High specific gravity is best indicator, colour and fracture are also helpful.

Industrial/economical uses:
Primary ore for barium, also used as an additive to drilling mud (because of high SG). Has over 2000 uses in industry.

  SilicateBiotite
K(Mg,Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

Most distinguishing features:
Colour and habit

Industrial/economical uses:
Altered into vermiculite, biotite is used as an insulation material and as filler in certain building supplies.

  SulfideBornite
Cu5FeS4

Other names/forms:
Peacock ore

Most distinguishing features:
Green-blue-purple iridescence is indicative, as is a brownish-bronze colour on fresh surfaces.

Industrial/economical uses:
Mined as an ore of copper, but not as important as chalcopyrite.