Explore our video gallery
Beautiful rocks / minerals
Geoscopy articles archive
Glossary archive A-Z
January 7, 2026
May 17, 2024
Sort by
April 24, 2024
Monazite, a group of rare earth minerals, is a key source of rare earth elements.
Feldspar is an aluminum silicate used in ceramics, glass, and construction.
Hematite is an iron oxide mineral used for iron ore, pigments, and radiation shielding.
Scheelite, a calcium tungstate, is the main source of tungsten for tools and alloys.
Beryl is a gemstone mineral, including emerald and aquamarine, and a source of beryllium.
Garnet is a group of silicate minerals used as gemstones and abrasives.
Talc, the softest mineral, is used in baby powder, cosmetics, ceramics, and plastics.
Gneiss is a durable, banded metamorphic rock used in construction and decoration.
Granite is a durable igneous rock used in construction, monuments, and countertops.
Chlorite, a green phyllosilicate mineral, is used as a geological indicator and industrial filler.
Amphibole is a diverse mineral group used for geological indicators and as insulation.
Zircon is a durable mineral used in jewelry, geological dating, and ceramics.
Limestone, mainly calcium carbonate, is used in construction, cement, and water treatment.
Fluorite, a colorful calcium fluoride, is used as flux in steelmaking, glass, and as gemstones.
Scorodite, a hydrated iron arsenate, is valued for arsenic containment and as a collector’s mineral.
Apatite is a calcium phosphate mineral found in various colors, primarily used in fertilizers.
Coal, mainly carbon, is used for energy and steel production.
Wulfenite is a bright orange or yellow mineral, prized by collectors.
Shale, a fine-grained sedimentary rock, is used for natural gas, cement, and research.
Halite, or rock salt, is a sodium chloride mineral used for seasoning, de-icing, and industry.
Borax is a sodium borate used in cleaning and glassmaking.
Marble, a calcium carbonate metamorphic rock, is used in sculpture, architecture, and countertops.
Magnetite, an iron oxide with magnetic properties, is used in steel production and catalysts.
Quartz, a silicon dioxide mineral, is used in jewelry and electronics.
Olivine, a magnesium iron silicate, is used in gemstones (peridot) and refractory materials.
Calcite is a trigonal calcium carbonate mineral used mainly in construction for making cement.
Biotite is a dark mica mineral used in insulation and geological studies.
Pyrite, or “Fool’s Gold,” is used for sulfur and iron production.
Muscovite, a mica mineral, is used in insulation, fireproofing, and cosmetics.
Bauxite is the main aluminum ore, primarily found in Australia.
Tourmaline is a colorful boron silicate mineral used as a gemstone and in electronics.
Sandstone, composed of quartz and feldspar, is used in construction, paving, landscaping, and glassmaking.
Kernite is a boron-rich mineral used in glassmaking, detergents, and ceramics.
Pyroxene, a silicate mineral group found in igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Adamite is a rare, colorful orthorhombic mineral prized by collectors for its vibrant crystals.
Dolomite is a calcium magnesium carbonate used in construction and agriculture.
Barite is a barium sulfate mineral used in drilling, shielding, and paints.
Vanadinite is a bright red mineral, primarily sourced from lead deposits.
Schist, a layered metamorphic rock rich in mica and quartz, is often used in construction.
Rhyolite, a silica-rich volcanic rock, is used in construction and research.
Quartzite, a durable metamorphic rock made of quartz, is used in construction and countertops.
Gypsum, a soft calcium sulfate mineral, is primarily used as plaster or in cement production.
Galena is the main ore of lead and silver, used in batteries and shielding.
Diorite is a tough igneous rock used in construction, art, and in research.
Basalt is a dark, fine-grained igneous rock used in construction, monuments, and geological studies.
Descloizite is a lead-zinc vanadate mineral, mainly found in Namibia and Mexico.
Mica is a group of silicate minerals with varying compositions mainly in insulation and electronics.
