Mineral Properties, Photos, Uses and Descriptions - Geology.com
Photos and information about 80 common rock-forming, ore and gemstone minerals from around the world.
Metamorphic Rocks | Pictures of Foliated and Non-Foliated Types
Photographs and brief descriptions of some common types of metamorphic rocks are shown on this page. Gneiss is a foliated metamorphic rock that has a banded appearance and is made up of granular mineral grains. It typically contains abundant quartz or feldspar minerals.
Rocks: Pictures of Igneous, Metamorphic and Sedimentary Rocks
Igneous Rocks: Photos, descriptions and facts about intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks.
Sedimentary Rocks | Pictures, Characteristics, Textures, Types
Organic sedimentary rocks form from the accumulation of plant or animal debris. Examples include: chalk, coal, diatomite, some dolomites, and some limestones. Photos and brief descriptions of some common sedimentary rock types are shown on this page.
Fluorescent Minerals and Rocks: They Glow under UV Light!
Fluorescent minerals: One of the most spectacular museum exhibits is a dark room filled with fluorescent rocks and minerals that are illuminated with ultraviolet light. They glow with an amazing array of vibrant colors - in sharp contrast to the color of the rocks under conditions of normal illumination.
Quartz Mineral | Photos, Uses, Properties, Pictures - Geology.com
Quartz is the most abundant and widely distributed mineral found at Earth's surface. It is present and plentiful in all parts of the world. It forms at all temperatures. It is abundant in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. It is highly resistant to …
Graphite: A mineral with extreme properties and many uses
Graphite is a mineral that forms when carbon is subjected to heat and pressure in Earth's crust and in the upper mantle. Pressures in the range of 75,000 pounds per square inch and temperatures in the range of 750 degrees Celsius are needed to produce graphite.
Magnetite & Lodestone | Mineral Photos, Uses, Properties
Magnetite is a very common iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4) mineral that is found in igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. It is the most commonly mined ore of iron. It is also the mineral with the highest iron content (72.4%).
Luster: The light-reflecting qualities of a mineral. - Geology.com
This word describes the general appearance of the specimen's surface in reflected light. Eleven adjectives are commonly used to describe mineral luster. They are: metallic, submetallic, nonmetallic, vitreous, dull, greasy, pearly, resinous, silky, waxy, and adamantine.
Igneous Rocks | Pictures of Intrusive and Extrusive Rock Types
Photographs and descriptions of intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks with photos and links to detailed articles by Geology.com