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
Silicate Subclasses: Nesosilicates | Pyroxenes | Amphiboles | Frameworks | Sorosilicates | Cyclosilicates | Phyllosilicates
  

Click on a mineral for more details.
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  SilicateAntigorite
Mg3Si2O5(OH)4

Other names/forms:
Serpentine

Most distinguishing features:
Lustre, colour and habit are indicative.

  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.

  SilicateChlorite
(Mg,Fe,Al)3(Si,Al)4O10(OH)2

Most distinguishing features:
Colour and its low hardness are distinguishing characteristics.

Industrial/economical uses:
None, however chlorite schist sometimes does have ornamental uses.

  SilicateChrysotile
Mg3Si2O5(OH)4

Other names/forms:
Serpentine

Most distinguishing features:
Habit and colour and most indicative properties.

Industrial/economical uses:
Used in 98% of world's production of asbestos.

  SilicateKaolinite
Al2Si2O5(OH)4

Most distinguishing features:
Distinctive "clayey" smell, hardness and colour are indicative.

Industrial/economical uses:
Paper coating/filler, drilling mud additive, ceramics, cosmetics, building supplies, cement, pharmaceuticals and even food.

  SilicateMuscovite
KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

Most distinguishing features:
Colour and habit are best indicators.

Industrial/economical uses:
Used in the electronics industry in the manufacture of capacitors, transistors, insulators and certain window types. Also used as a filler in building materials.

  SilicateTalc
Mg3Si4O10(OH)2

Most distinguishing features:
Mineral is very soft and are often compact masses. Colour is typical and varies to brown, green or gray.