Cerussite
Chemical formula: PbCO3
Molecular weight: 267.21 gm
Color: white, gray, light green or blue
Streak: white
Transparency: transparent or translucent
Luster: adamantine, sometimes greasy or nacreous
Fracture: conchoidal
Hardness: 3.0-3.5
Specific gravity: 6.4-6.6
Cleavage: {110} distinct, {021} distinct
Luminescence: none
Common paragenetic minerals: calcite, barite, galena, anglesite, pyromorphite, wulfenite, etc.
Uses: It is often used as a symbol to find lead ore.
Scheelite
Chemical formula: CaWO4
Color: gray, light yellow, light purple or light brown, sometimes with green, orange or red
Streak: yellow-green
Transparency: transparent to translucent
Luster: greasy, adamantine
Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 4.5
Specific gravity: 6.1
Luminescence: fluorescence; UV short wave is bright blue-white.
Refractive index: 1.915-1.937
Birefringence: 0.016
Dispersion: 0.026
Uses: 80% of the scheelite mined in the world is used for smelting high-quality steel, 15% for producing hard steel and 5% for other purposes. The scheelite, a metal with a wide range of uses, can be used to manufacture firearms, nozzles of rocket propellers, metals cutting, etc.
Muscovite
Chemical formula: KAl2(AISi3O10)(OH)2
Molecular weight: 398.71 gm
Mineral group: phyllosilicate minerals
Shape: large plate
Color: varied from colorless to light color
Transparency: transparent
Luster: vitreous to silky
Hardness: 2.5-3
Specific gravity: 2.76-3.10
Cleavage: {001} perfect
Distribution: in metamorphic rocks and granite
Features: elastic lamellae
Crystal system: monoclinic
Characteristics: insulation, high-temperature resistance, luster, stable physical and chemical properties, good insulation, elasticity and toughness
Uses: It is widely used in the building materials industry, fire protection industry and chemical industry such as extinguishing agent, electric welding electrode, plastic, electrical insulation, papermaking, asphalt paper, rubber and pearlescent pigment. Superfine mica powder can be used as functional filler for plastics, coatings, paints, rubber, etc., which can improve its mechanical strength, toughness, adhesion, aging resistance and corrosion resistance.
Cinnabar
Chemical formula: HgS
Molecular weight: 232.66 gm
Fracture: conchoidal to uneven
Hardness: 2-2.5
Specific gravity: 8.0-8.2
Cleavage: {1010} perfect
Crystal system: trigonal/hexagonal
Uses: mercury refining, laser modulation crystal, calming medicine, etc.
Hematite
Chemical formula: Fe2O3
Molecular weight: 159.69 gm
Mineral group: oxides
Color: caesious
Streak: cherry red to reddish brown
Transparency: opaque
Luster: metallic to dark dull
Fracture: sub-conchoidal to uneven
Hardness: 5-6
Specific gravity: 5.3
Cleavage: none
Crystal system: hexagonal
Crystal habit: tabular, sometimes lamelliform or botryoidal
Refractive index: 2.94-3.22
Cuprite
Chemical formula: Cu2O
Copper content: 88.82%
Color: red, fuchsia, maroon, nearly black
Luster: adamantine, semi-metallic
Hardness: 3.5-4.5
Specific gravity: 5.3
Crystal system: isometric
Crystal habit: cube, octahedron or combinate form
Optical property: homogeneous
Main producing areas: France, Chile, Bolivia, South Australia, USA, etc.
Uses: processed into copper concentrate through beneficiation
Magnetite
Chemical formula: Fe3O4
Color: black
Streak: black
Transparency: opaque
Luster: metallic or semi-metallic
Hardness: 5.5-6
Specific gravity: 4.8-5.3
Cleavage: none
Main producing areas: Russia, North America, Brazil, Australia, China, etc.
Uses: It is the main mineral raw material for iron making and traditional Chinese medicinal materials.
Orpiment
Chemical formula: As2S3
Safety description: highly toxic
Appearance: lemon yellow
Transparency: translucent
Luster: adamantine to greasy
Hardness: 1.5-2
Specific gravity: 3.49
Refractive index: 2.81
Main producing areas: Romania, Germany, etc.
Uses: the manufacture of arsenic and arsenic compounds
Opal
Chemical formula: SiO2•nH2O
Mineral group: silicate minerals
Color: opal
Luster: vitreous or waxy
Features: conchoidal
Hardness: 5-5.5
Specific gravity: 1.9-2.5
Density: 2.15-2.23 g/cm3
Water content: 5%-10%
Crystal habit: dense massive, granular, earthy, stalactitic, concretionary, porous, etc.
Uses: jewelry (such as rings and pendants); Fossil opal can be used to make crafts.
Tourmaline
Chemical formula: (Na/Ca)(Mg/Li/Al/Fe2+)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4
Color: black, red, green, blue, brown, gray, orange-red, fuchsia, light green, etc.
Transparency: transparent to translucent
Luster: vitreous
Hardness: 7-7.5
Density: 3.0-3.25
Melting point: 1105-1725 ℃
Properties: pyroelectricity, piezoelectricity
Crystal habit: granular, acicular as well as vein-like, radiated and fibrous aggregates
Uses: water treatment, electromagnetic shielding, ceramics, acoustoelectric materials, medicine, etc.
Arsenopyrite
Chemical formula: FeAsS
Color: tin white to steel gray
Streak: gray black
Transparency: opaque
Luster: metallic
Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 5.5-6
Specific gravity: 5.9-6.3
Cleavage: {110} distinct
Main producing areas: Freiberg in Germany; Cornwall in the UK; Cobalt in Canada, etc.
Uses: It is used to produce various pesticides, herbicides and chemical weapons. Arsenic compounds are also used in medicine, paint, fireworks and glass.
Calcite
Chemical formula: CaCO3
Main ingredients: Ca, C, O
Mineral group: carbonate minerals
Color: transparent or white, sometimes with noise
Streak: white
Luster: vitreous
Hardness: 3
Specific gravity: 2.60-2.8 g/cm3
Density: 2.71
Cleavage: {1011} perfect
Crystal system: trigonal
Refractive index: 1.48-1.66
Birefringence: 0.1712
Uses: Calcite is used as a flux in the metallurgical industry and used to produce cement and lime in the construction industry. It is also used in plastics, paper making, toothpaste, glass lampshades and additives in food.
Boracite
Chemical formula: Mg3(B7O13)Cl
Color: white or off-white
Luster: vitreous
Fracture: conchoidal
Relative density: 3.48
Cleavage: none
Distribution: in gypsum and halite deposit
Other properties: thermoelectricity
Crystal system: monoclinic
Galena
Chemical formula: PbS
Color: lead gray
Streak: gray black
Transparency: opaque
Luster: metallic
Hardness: 2-3
Density: 7.4-7.6
Crystal habit: cubic as well as columnar or dense massive aggregates
Uses: Galena is the main mineral for extracting lead. The use of lead is ancient and extensive, such as type printing, wire coating, pencil lead, etc.
Peridot
Chemical formula: Mg2SiO4
Color: emerald green, yellowish green, golden green
Transparency: transparent
Luster: vitreous
Fracture: conchoidal
Hardness: 6.5-8
Specific gravity: 3.34 (+0.14, -0.07)
Density: 3.3-3.5
Cleavage: poor
Appearance: columnar or short columnar, often irregularly granular
Crystal system: orthorhombic
Crystal habit: short columnar and granular
Water-soluble: insoluble in water
Absorption spectrum: 453nm, 477nm and 497nm
Uses: refractories
Ruby
Chemical formula: Al2O3
Title: King of Colored Gems
Color: red to pink
Hardness: 9
Relative density: 3.99-4.00
Crystal habit: trigonal
Refractive index: 1.762-1.770
Pleochroism: moderately strong dichroism
Birefringence: 0.008-0.010
Main producing areas: Mogok and Mong Hsu in Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, China, etc.
Selection of rubies: particle size, color, fire, crack, etc.
Sapphire
Chemical formula: Al2O3
Mineral group: corundum minerals
Color: other colors except red
Luster: bright vitreous
Fracture: conchoidal to uneven
Specific gravity: 4.0-4.1
Cleavage: none
Important varieties: star sapphire, cornflower, royal blue, etc.
Crystal system: trigonal
Crystal habit: barrel or columnar; A few are plate-shaped or blade-shaped.
Uses: jewelry, artwork, etc.
Zircon
Chemical formula: ZrSiO4
Luster: vitreous and adamantine, greasy (fracture)
Specific gravity: 4.4-4.8
Density: 3.90-4.73 g/cm3
Appearance: transparent to translucent, colorless, magenta, golden yellow, light yellow
Crystal structure: tetragonal
Uses: refractory materials, sand materials, ceramic raw materials, gem raw materials, etc.
Chromite
Chemical formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
Color: black
Transparency: opaque
Hardness: 5.5-6.5
Specific gravity: 4.3-4.8
Cleavage: none
Main producing areas: Brazil, Cuba, India, South Africa, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Turkey, etc.
Uses: refining metallic chromium and producing ferrochrome, stainless steel, manufacturing dichromate, etc.
Limonite
Chemical formula: FeO(OH)·nH2O
Color: tawny to brown-black
Streak: tawny
Luster: semi-metallic
Hardness: semi-metallic
Crystal habit: massive, stalactitic, botryoidal, loose porous, powder, concretionary or pyrite crystal.
Main producing areas: Lorraine in France, Bavaria, Sweden, etc.
Fluorite
Chemical formula: CaF2O
Title: The most brilliant gem in the world
Color: colorless, purple, lilac, golden yellow, green, blue, pink, champagne, brown
Streak: white
Luster: vitreous or dark (large crystal)
Fracture: uneven or sub-conchoidal
Toughness: brittle and fragile
Hardness: 4
Specific gravity: 3.00-3.25
Density: 3.175-3.56 g/cm3
Melting point: 1360 ℃
Cleavage: {111} perfect
Main producing areas: Cornwall and Castleton in the United Kingdom; Puy-de-Dome in France; Mont Blanc in Switzerland; the Black Forest in Germany; Asturias in Spain; Dalnegorsk in Russia; Hunan Province in China; Chihuahua in Mexico; New York, Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee in the US, etc.
Uses: refining a large number of fluorine minerals and producing glass, enamel, optical fields, etc.
Wolframite
Chemical formula: (Fe/Mn)WO4
Color: brown to black
Luster: metallic, semi-metallic
Hardness: 4-4.5
Specific gravity: 7.2-7.5
Crystal habit: tabular or column
Main production areas: Siberia in Russia, Myanmar, Thailand, Australia, Bolivia, etc.
Uses: producing various deep-processed products of tungsten; The special alloy steel of tungsten is used to manufacture high-speed cutting tools, gun bores, barrels, rocket engines, rocket nozzles, tank armour, etc.
Biotite
Chemical formula: K(Mg/Fe)3(AlSi3O10)(F/OH)2
Mineral group: mica
Color: black, brown, red, green
Streak: white
Transparency: transparent to translucent
Luster: vitreous
Hardness: 2.5-3
Brittleness: elastic; It is easy to be torn into pieces.
Features: extremely high electrical insulation
Uses: It is widely used in fire extinguishing agents, welding electrodes, plastics, electrical insulation, papermaking, asphalt paper, rubber, fillers, etc.
Tiger's Eye
Chemical formula: SiO2
Color: brownish yellow, brown to reddish-brown (krocodylite) and gray blue, dark gray blue (hawk's eye)
Luster: waxy
Hardness: 7
Processing method: cabochon cutting
Main producing areas: Transvaal in South Africa (South Africa's national gem), India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Namibia, Australia, Brazil, etc.
Sphalerite
Chemical formula: (Zn/Fe)S
Color: light yellow, brown to black (iron sphalerite)
Streak: white to brown
Transparency: transparent to translucent
Luster: adamantine to semi-metallic
Fracture: not flat
Hardness: 3-4.5
Specific gravity: 3.9-4.2
Cleavage: {110} perfect
Luminescence: fluorescence and phosphorescence after friction
Main producing areas: Broken Hill in Australia; Mississippi Valley in the United States, etc.
Uses: It is the main mineral raw material for refining zinc, and its rare elements such as cadmium, indium and gallium can also be comprehensively utilized.
Granite
Chemical composition: SiO2 (65%-70%) with a little Al2O3, CaO, MgO and Fe2O3
Main minerals: quartz, potash feldspar and acid plagioclase
Color: light salmon, light gray, ash grey, etc.
Density: 2790-3070 kg/m3
Specific gravity: 2.6-2.75
Water absorption rate: 0.13%
Elasticity modulus: 1.3-1.5x106 kg/cm3
Compressive strength: 1000-3000 kg/cm2
Uses: paving block and building materials
Talc
Chemical formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
Mineral group: silicate minerals
Color: white or various light colors
Streak: white
Transparency: translucent
Luster: greasy (massive) or nacreous (schistose aggregated)
Hardness: 1
Specific gravity: 2.6-2.8
Uses: refractory materials, papermaking, rubber fillers, pesticide absorbents, leather coatings, cosmetic materials and engraving materials, etc.
Pyrite
Chemical formula: FeS2
Streak: light brass
Transparency: opaque
Luster: bright metallic
Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 6
Specific gravity: 4.90
Cleavage: none
Crystal system: isometric
Distribution: igneous rock, metamorphic rock, sedimentary rock
Main producing areas: Spain, Czech Republic, Slovakia, United States and China
Uses: the main raw material for the production of sulfur and sulfuric acid
Chalcopyrite
Chemical formula: CuFeS2
Color: yellow; Blue and purple-brown spots often appear on the surface.
Streak: green black
Luster: metallic, opaque
Hardness: 3-4
Relative density: 4.1-4.3
Main producing areas: Minas de Riotinto in Spain; Arizona Utah and Montana in the US; Cananea in Mexico; Chuquicamata in Chile, etc.
Uses: the main raw material for copper smelting
Topaz
Chemical formula: Al2(SiO4)(F/OH)2
Color: colorless, light blue, blue, yellow, pink, maroon, green, etc.
Transparency: transparent
Luster: vitreous
Hardness: 8
Density: around 3.53g/cm3
Refractive index: 1.619-1.627
Distribution: granite pegmatite, greisen
Bismuth
Chemical formula: Bi
Color: tin white with slight lead gray
Streak: lead gray or gray black
Transparency: opaque
Luster: metallic
Hardness: 2-2.5
Specific gravity: 6.8
Cleavage: {0001} perfect
Main producing areas: Bolivia, Peru, Russia, Central Asia and Russia
Uses: It is the most important mineral for refining bismuth to manufacture low melting point alloys, used as fuse and solder for automatic fire extinguishing system and electrical appliances in the fire and electrical industries.
Spinel
Chemical formula: MgAl2O4
Color: red, orange-red, pink, prunosus, colorless, yellow, aurantiacus, brown, blue, green, purple, etc.
Transparency: transparent to opaque
Luster: vitreous to sub-adamantine
Fracture: conchoidal
Hardness: 8
Specific gravity: 3.60 or 4.60 (with high Zn content)
Cleavage: none
Distribution: schist, serpentine, etc.
Features: aventurescence, rare asterism
Crystal system: isometric
Crystal habit: octahedral
Main producing areas: Mogok in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Tajikistan, Vietnam, the United States and Afghanistan
Uses: metallurgy, glass, cement, ceramics and other industries
Diamond
Chemical formula: C
Color: colorless (the best) to black
Streak: none
Hardness: 10
Density: 3.52 g/cm3
Melting point: 3550-4000 °C
Refractive index: 2.417 (under 500 nm light wave)
Dispersion rate: 0.044
Main producing areas: South Africa, Australia, Zaire, Botswana and Russia
Rutile
Chemical formula: TiO2
Mineral group: titanium oxide
Color: reddish-brown, red, yellow or black
Luster: vitreous to metallic
Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 6
Specific gravity: 4.2-4.3
Luminescence: none
Refractive index: 2.62-2.90
Birefringence: 0.287
Crystal system: tetragonal
Uses: military aviation, aerospace, navigation, machinery, chemical industry, seawater desalination, etc.
Gold ore
Chemical formula: Au
Color: golden yellow (pure gold); changes accordingly with impurities containing
Luster: metallic
Specific gravity: 15-19.3
Crystal habit: irregular granular, lumpy, tabular, web, dendritic, fibrelike and spongy
Uses: metallurgy
Malachite
Chemical formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Color: green
Transparency: translucent to opaque
Luster: waxy, vitreous
Fracture: conchoidal, uneven
Hardness: 3.5-4
Density: 3.6-4 g/cm3
Brittleness: brittle
Solubility: 25 ℃
Crystal system: monoclinic
Main producing areas: Zambia, Australia, Namibia, Russia, Zaire, United States, etc.
Uses: decoration, industrial use, medicine
Azurite
Chemical formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Color: green, malachite green, dark green, etc.
Luster: silky or vitreous
Fracture: conchoidal
Hardness: 3.5-4
Crystal habit: monoclinic
Main producing areas: Zambia, Australia, Namibia, Russia, Zaire, United States, etc.
Uses: pigments, artworks or decorations
Spodumene
Chemical formula: LiAlSi2O6
Types: Types: kunzite, spodumene, hiddenite
Color: pink, fuchsia, yellow, green, colorless, etc.
Transparency: strong pleochroism with obvious trichroism
Luster: vitreous
Fracture: step-like
Hardness: 6.5-7
Density: 3.03-3.22 g/cm3
Cleavage: perfect in two directions with parting
Crystal system: monoclinic
Main producing areas: Brazil, Madagascar, United States, Xinjiang Province in China
Uses: ceramics, metallurgy, vitreous enamel, special glass, chemical industry, etc.
Apatite
Chemical formula: Ca5(PO4)3(F/Cl/OH)
Color: yellow, light yellow, blue, green, purple, pink, etc.
Streak: colorless
Transparency: usually transparent, translucent (those with chatoyancy)
Luster: vitreous, greasy (fracture)
Fracture: uneven, conchoidal
Hardness: 5
Specific gravity: 3.20
Brittleness: brittle
Cleavage: {0001} indistinct, {1010} indistinct
Distribution: various igneous rocks
Crystal system: hexagonal
Crystal habit: vitreous, massive or concretionary
Uses: It is an important raw material for extracting phosphorus and manufacturing agricultural phosphate fertilizer. Apatite with good color and crystal can be used as gemstone or decorative material.
Phosphorite
Chemical formula: Zn2Fe(PO4)2•4H2O
Color: yellow-green
Hardness: 3.5-4
Density: 7.04-7.24
Toughness: fragile
Crystal system: hexagonal
Main producing areas: United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Mexico, Canada, Russia, Australia, Spain, Southwest Africa and China
Uses: It is a mineral raw material for lead smelting.
Rhodochrosite
Chemical formula: MnCO3
Color: pink, dark red
Transparency: transparent to translucent
Luster: vitreous, sub-vitreous
Hardness: 3-5
Cleavage: {1011} perfect, {1011} perfect, {1011} perfect
Optical characters: uniaxial crystal, negative optical
Optical properties: chatoyancy, asterism
Crystal system: trigonal
Main producing areas: United States, Peru, Argentina, Romania, Japan, South Africa and China
Uses: jade carving material
Quartz
Chemical formula: SiO2
Mineral group: oxide minerals
Color: colorless
Transparency: translucent or transparent
Luster: vitreous, greasy (fracture)
Hardness: 7
Specific gravity: 2.22-2.65
Density: 2.65 g/cm3
Cleavage: none
Distribution: in most rocks as one of the main rock-forming minerals Crystal system: trigonal or hexagonal
Uses: It is widely used in glass, ceramics, petroleum, metallurgy, casting, building materials and other industries.
Celestite
Chemical formula: SrSO4
Color: light blue or sky blue
Streak: white
Transparency: transparent to translucent
Luster: vitreous, nacreous (cleavage surface)
Hardness: 3-3.5
Density: 3.97-4.0 g/cm3
Distribution: sedimentary rocks such as limestone, dolomite and gypsum
Crystal system: orthorhombic
Crystal habit: A single crystal is often plate-shaped or columnar and the aggregate is granular, fibrous and nodular.
Uses: It is used in the manufacture of strontium carbonate and the production of TV glass, etc.
Strontium carbonate
Ca content: 10.6%
Color: white, or grey, yellowish white, green, brown (with impurities)
Luster: vitreous, greasy (fracture)
Hardness: 3.5-4
Relative density: 3.6-3.8
Crystal system: trigonal
Distribution: in limestone or marlstone, coexisting with witherite, baryte, calcite, celestite, fluorite and sulfide
Uses: As an important raw material to extract strontium, strontium carbonate is mainly used in the manufacture of TV screen glass, which can absorb gamma rays; secondly it is used in the manufacture of strontium ferrite.
Siderite
Chemical formula: FeCO3
Color: generally gray or yellowish-white
Hardness: 3.75-4.25
Specific gravity: 3.7-4.0
Water absorption rate: <0.5%
Thermal stability: no cracking at 700℃
Common symbiotic minerals: quartz, pyrite, limonite, goethite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, cryolite, galena, barite, calcite, dolomite, fluorite, etc.
Main producing areas: Poland, Bohemia in Czech, Germany, France, Britain, Portugal, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, China, etc.
Uses: smelting steel
Epidote
Chemical formula: Ca2(Al/Fe)Al2O(SiO4)(Si2O7)O(OH)
Color: gray, yellow, yellow-green, green-brown, or nearly black; The color becomes darker as the content increases.
Streak: not obvious to gray
Transparency: transparent to translucent
Luster: vitreous
Fracture: irregular
Hardness: 6-7
Specific gravity: 3.38-3.49
Density: 3.40 (+0.10, -0.15) g/cm3
Cleavage: {001} perfect
Crystalline state: crystalline
Crystal system: monoclinic
Main producing areas: Mexico, Switzerland, Austria, Pakistan, France, etc.
Uses: In industrial applications, epidote generally only has mineralogical and petrological significance. It is the primary ore of emerald and transparent crystals can be ground into precious and rare faceted gemstones.
Turquoise
Chemical formula: CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O
Color: green, blue, blue-green, bluish yellow
Luster: waxy, greasy
Fracture: conchoidal, granular
Hardness: 5-6
Relative density: 2.6-2.73
Cleavage: none
Refractive index: 1.610-1.650, 1.61 (spot measurement)
Optical characteristics: heterogeneous aggregates
Crystal system: triclinic
Main producing areas: China, Iran, Egypt, United States, Mexico, Afghanistan, India, etc.
Uses: jewelry, handicrafts, national beliefs
Agate
Chemical formula: SiO2
Types: onyx, sardonyx, agate arborisee, castle agate, etc.
Color: green, red, yellow, brown, white, etc.
Streak: white
Transparency: translucent
Hardness: 6.5-7
Specific gravity: 2.65
Appearance: striped block of opal and cryptocrystalline quartz
Crystal system: trigonal
Main producing areas: China, India, Brazil, Madagascar, the United States, Egypt, Australia, Mexico, etc.
Thenardite
Growing environment: alkali earth area in the seaside, mineral springs, salt fields and humid caves
Harvesting time: It can be harvested throughout the year, but autumn and winter are better.
Dosage: 6～12g; appropriate amount for external use
Storage: airtight, below 30 ℃, anti-weathering
Property and flavor: cold, salty, bitter
Efficacy: defaecation, moistening dryness, softening hardness, heat-clearing and detumescence
Indications: used for bloating, dry bound stools, acute appendicitis, piles sores
Medicinal properties: It is prismatic, rectangular or irregular block and granular. It is brittle and fragile. colorless transparent or off-white translucent; vitreous fracture;
Alunite
Chemical formula: KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6
Color: white, light gray (with impurities) and light yellow (with impurities)
Luster: vitreous
Fracture: splintery, conchoidal
Hardness: 2-2.5
Density: 2.6-2.9
Cleavage: {0001} perfect
Distribution: in the form of cystid or thin layers in volcanic rocks such as rhyolite, trachyte and andesite
Crystal system: trigonal
Crystal habit: small rhombohedron, thick tabular or dense massive, fine granular, earthy or fibrous aggregates.
Uses: in the manufacturing industry, chemical industry, food industry, agriculture, chemical industry, environmental protection industry such as mordant for dyeing cloth, hardener for tanning materials and film, the catalyst for synthesis ammonia, clarifying agent for sugar and water, precipitating agent for mineral processing, etc.
Wulfenite
Chemical formula: Pb(MoO4)
Color: yellow or wax yellow
Streak: off-white
Transparency: transparent to translucent
Luster: adamantine, greasy (fracture)
Fracture: sub-conchoidal
Hardness: 2.5-3
Specific gravity: 6.5-7
Cleavage: {101} imperfect
Crystal system: tetragonal
Main production areas: Pribram in Bohemia, Czech Republic; Oudida in Morocco; SidiRenman in Algeria; BrokenHill in NewSouthWales, Australia; Ahumada mine in Mexico; Arizona in the USA, etc.
Molybdenum extraction from wulfenite: sodium sulfide leaching process, bio-leaching process, mechano-chemical direct decomposition process
Albite
Chemical formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
Color: colorless, white, yellow, red or black
Hardness: 6-6.5
Specific gravity: 2.62
Density: 2.61-2.64 g/cm3
Melting point: 1100 ℃
Distribution: pegmatite and granite
Crystal system: triclinic
Uses: making ceramics, soap, ceramic tiles, floor tiles, glass, abrasives, etc.
Niobium tantalite
Color: brown to iron black
Streak: dark red to black
Transparency: translucent to opaque
Luster: semi-metallic to metallic
Hardness: 4.2 (niobite) -7 (manganotantalite)
Relative density: 5.36-8.17
Other properties: brittle; weak—strong electromagnetism
Crystal system: orthorhombic
Uses: main ore mineral containing niobium and tantalum; Niobium and tantalum are mainly used to produce special alloy steel for military industry and advanced technology.
Szaibelyite
Chemical formula: MgBO2(OH)
Mineral group: borate minerals
Color: white, grey white, light green, yellow
Streak: white
Luster: silky to earthy
Hardness: 3-4
Weight: 2.62-2.75
Cleavage: none
Distribution: mainly occurring in skarn type and hydrothermal metasomatic type deposits, often associated with ludwigite, fluoborite, etc.
Crystal system: monoclinic
Uses: in the production of boric acid, borax, boron, boron compounds, etc.
Ludwigite
Chemical formula: Mg2Fe3+(BO3)O2
Color: dark green or black
Luster: dull silky
Hardness: 5.5-6
Density: 3.6-4.7 g/cm3
Distribution: produced in serpentinization dolomite marble or magnesia skarn, often associated with magnetite, diopside, flogopite, forsterite, etc.
Crystal system: orthorhombic
Crystal habit: acicular, radiated or granular block aggregates
Uses: making boron and boride
Borax
Chemical formula: Na2(B4O5)(OH)4 · 8H2O
Molecular weight: 381.37
Mineral group: borate minerals
Density: 1.73 g/cm3
Melting point: 741 ℃ (anhydrous)
Water soluble: soluble in water
Appearance: fine white crystal
Pharmacological action: bacteriostasis, anticonvulsion and antiepileptic action, preservative effect and protecting skin mucosa
Preparation methods: sulfuric acid method, ordinary pressure alkaline hydrolysis, pressure alkaline hydrolysis, soda method, soda roasting—ordinary pressure water immersion, etc.
Uses: preparation of boron compounds to be widely used in metallurgy, iron and steel, machinery, military industry, cutting tools, papermaking, vacuum tube, chemical and textile sectors
Palygorskite
Chemical formula: (Mg/Al)2Si4O10(OH) · 4H2O
Color: white, grey, light green or light brown
Luster: earthy or weak silky
Fracture: conchoidal, uneven
Hardness: 2-2.5
Density: 2.05-2.32 g/cm3
Brittleness: brittle
Cleavage: {110} good
Distribution: weathered crust of magnesium-rich rock
Crystal system: monoclinic
Uses: Palygorskite is widely used in chemical industry, pesticide, national defense, medicine, building materials, light textile and other industries. In recent years, its applications in environmental protection, automobile, insulation, ceramic industry applications, have also made outstanding progress. It is an ideal alternative to asbestos.
Augite
Chemical formula: (Ca/Na)(Mg/Fe/Al/Ti)(Si/Al)2O6
Color: greenish black or black
Transparency: translucent
Luster: vitreous
Hardness: 5.5-6
Relative density: 3.02-3.45
Distribution: igneous rocks and metamorphic rocks
Crystal system: monoclinic or orthorhombic
Anglesite
Chemical formula: PbSO4
Color: colorless to white, or dark gray (with impurities)
Luster: adamantine
Hardness: 2.5-3
Solubility: extremely low
Optical properties: biaxial crystal, positive character
Distribution: oxidation zone of sulfide deposits
Crystal habits: tabular, short columnar, or conical
Uses: It is an indicator mineral for deep primary sulfide ore body. Colorful anglesite can be used as an ornamental specimen.
Bluestone
Chemical formula: CuSO4 · 5H2O
Color: sky blue, blue, sometimes with a little light green
Streak: colorless or light blue
Hardness: 2.5
Specific gravity: 2.1-2.3
Density: 2.284 g/cm3
Melting point: 110 ℃
Boiling point: 330 ℃
Water soluble: highly soluble in water
Distribution: oxidation zone of copper deposits, also often appear in the mine tunnel wall and pillars
Appearance: blue massive or powdery crystals
Crystal system: triclinic
Uses: metal smelting, chemical industry, medicinal, gas desiccant, etc.
Rhodonite
Chemical formula: (Mn2+/Fe2+/Mg/Ca)SiO3
Color: light pink, rose red
Streak: gray or yellow-green
Transparency: translucent or opaque
Luster: vitreous to nacreous
Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 5.5-6.5
Density: 3.50(+0.26, -0.20) g/cm3
Cleavage: {110} perfect, {110} perfect
Luminescence: none
Crystal system: triclinic
Main producing areas: Germany, the United States, Australia, Romania, Brazil, etc.
Uses: Because of its bright color, strong and compact quality, it is used for decoration and carving.
Gypsum
Chemical formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
Mineral group: hydrated sulfates
Color: white, colorless, yellow-red (with impurities)
Streak: white
Transparency: transparent to translucent
Luster: vitreous, silky or nacreous
Fracture: conchoidal, sometimes fibrous
Hardness: 2
Density: 2.31-2.33
Brittleness: bending
Cleavage: {010} perfect, {100} distinct, {011} distinct
Crystal system: monoclinic
Crystal habit: tabular, fibrous, massive or fine granular
Main producing areas: USA, Canada, France, Germany, Britain, Spain, etc.
Uses: agricultural fertilizer, industrial materials, medical materials, building materials, food additives, painting, etc.
Garnet
Chemical formula: (Mg/Mn/Ca/Fe2+)3(Al/Cr/Fe3+)2(SiO4)3
Chemical composition: silicate containing Al, Mg, Fe or Mn
Types: Pyrope, Almandine, Spessartite, Andradite, Grossular, Tsavorite, Hessonite and Uvarovite
Color: red, yellow, brown, green, black, etc.
Transparency: transparency to subtranslucent
Hardness: 6.5-7.5
Specific gravity: 3.6-4.2
Cleavage: none
Special optical effects: asterism, colour-changing, chatoyancy
Crystal habit: usually rhombic dodecahedron, tetragonal trisoctahedron
Main producing areas: Norway, Czech Republic, USA, Tanzania, China, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Madagascar, etc.
Uses: Garnet is used in cutting steel and other materials mixed with high-pressure water. Garnet sand is also used as a water purification medium.
Graphite
Chemical formula: C
Density: 2.25 g/cm3
Boiling point: 4827 ℃
Melting point: 3652 ℃
Water-soluble: insoluble in water
Appearance: black solid
Hazard description: non-toxic; The respiratory disease will be caused if graphite dust inhalation.
Chemical properties: stable, corrosion-resistant, not easy to react with acid, alkali and other agents
Main producing areas: China, India, Brazil, Czech Republic, Canada, Mexico and other countries
Purification methods: flotation, alkali and acid method, hydrofluoric acid method, chloridizing roast, high-temperature method
Uses: pencil lead, refractory, conducting material, lubricating material, carbon manufacturing, radiation-proof material, etc.
Halite
Chemical formula: NaCl
Mineral group: halide mineral
Color: white or colorless (pure), pink, yellow, blue, orange-yellow, purple, etc. (with impurities)
Streak: white
Luster: vitreous or greasy
Fracture: conchoidal
Hardness: 2-2.5
Specific gravity: 2.1-2.2
Cleavage: {100} perfect, {010} perfect, {001} perfect
Main producing areas: China, UK, Germany, Canada, USA, Italy, etc.
Uses: Salt is a necessity of human life and has a wide range of uses in industry, agriculture and other fields. Besides being processed into refined salt for consumption, halite is also one of the most basic raw materials for the chemical industry, and is known as "mother of the chemical industry".
Almandine
Chemical formula: Fe2+3Al2(SiO4)3
Color: red, orange, fuchsia, brown, black
Streak: white
Luster: vitreous or greasy
Fracture: conchoidal
Hardness: 7.5
Specific gravity: 3.85-4.20
Cleavage: none
Crystal system: isometric
Main producing areas: China, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Austria, etc.
Uses: Because of its high hardness, it can be used as grinding material. Dark red and transparent almandine can be used as gems.
Torbernite
Chemical formula: Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O
Streak: yellow
Luster: vitreous, nacreous (cleavage surface)
Fracture: uneven
Hardness: 2-2.5
Specific gravity: 3.22-3.60
Cleavage: {001} perfect, {100} distinct
Other properties: strong radioactivity
Distribution: weathering products of minerals in hydrothermal veins or pegmatite veins
Crystal system: tetragonal
Uses: When torbernite is piled up in large quantities, it has industrial value and forms lean ore of uranium oxide. Torbernite is bright emerald in the oxidation zone, so it is a good indicator for primary uranium deposits.
Sanidine
Chemical formula: K(AlSi3O8)
Color: colorless, white, green, blue-green, brown, grey-black, etc.
Transparency: transparent as water
Luster: vitreous, nacreous (cleavage surface)
Hardness: 6-6.5
Density: 2.30-2.70 g/cm3
Special optical effect: moonlight effect, chatoyancy, aventurescence, sun effect, iridescence
Crystal system: monoclinic
Main producing areas: Sri Lanka, Myanmar, India, Australia, Madagascar, Tanzania, USA and Brazil
Cassiterite
Chemical formula: SnO2
Mineral group: oxide minerals
Color: bright dark brown, colorless, yellow and black
Transparency: opacity to transparency
Luster: adamantine to sub-adamantine
Hardness: 6-7
Density: 6.87-7.03 (gem-grade)
Cleavage: {100} perfect, {110} indistinct
Refractive index: 1.997-2.093 (+0.009, -0.006)
Birefringence: 0.096-0.098
Optical characteristics: uniaxial crystal, positive optical properties
Ultraviolet fluorescence: none
Uses: A small amount of cassiterite can be used to make gems, ornamental stones and collectibles. Cassiterite, which contains about 78% of tin, is an important mineral for tin extraction. In industry, tin can be used to make white iron, tin tubes, tin foil, various alloys and electroplating parts, and its oxide can be used to make dyes, enamel, porcelain and glass, etc.
Hsianghualite
Chemical formula: Ca3Li2(Be3Si3O12)F2
Color: colorless, oyster white
Transparency: transparent or translucent
Luster: vitreous
Hardness: 6.5
Specific gravity: 2.97-3
Relative density: 2.90-3.00
Cleavage: none
Realgar
Chemical formula: As4S4
Color: orange
Luster: adamantine, greasy (fracture)
Optical characteristics: biaxial crystal, optical negative
Distribution: in low-temperature hydrothermal veins associated with orpiment, hydrothermal deposits and volcanic condensates
Crystal system: monoclinic
Main producing areas: USA, China
Clinical application: treatment of chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, tropical eosinophilia, herpes zoster, pterygium
Pyrophyllite
Chemical formula: Al2Si4O10(OH)2
Mineral group: silicate minerals
Color: white with a little light yellow or light green
Transparency: translucent
Luster: vitreous
Hardness: 1-2
Density: 2.65-2.90 g/cm3
Distribution: metasomatic deposit of volcanic rocks
Crystal system: monoclinic
Crystal habit: dense massive, tabular, radiated aggregates
Uses: refractory, ceramic, electrical porcelain, crucible, glass fiber, etc.
Psilomelane
Chemical formula: (Ba/H2O)2Mn5O10
Color: black to dark gray
Streak: light brown-black to black
Transparency: opacity
Luster: semi-metallic to dark
Hardness: 4-6
Specific gravity: 4.4-4.7
Crystal system: monoclinal or orthorhombic
Crystal habit: massive, botryoidal, stalactitic, reniform, mammillary, crustaceous, dendritic and earthy
Uses: an important ore for manganese smelting; used for making batteries, matches, printing paint, soap; colorants and decolourant for glass and ceramics; national defense industry, electronics industry, environmental protection, agriculture and animal husbandry and other industries.
Feldspar
Chemical formula: KAlSi3O8
Color: white, meat red, dark, green, etc.
Luster: vitreous
Hardness: 6-6.5
Weight: 2.55-2.75
Distribution: igneous rock, metamorphic rock, sedimentary rock
Crystal system: monoclinic or triclinic
Crystal habit: lath-shaped
Uses: As the aluminosilicate mineral of alkali metals such as potassium, sodium, calcium and barium, it is mainly used for making ceramics, enamel, glass raw materials, abrasive tools potash fertilizer, etc.
Cairngorm
Chemical formula: SiO2
Mineral composition: Quartz cairngorm is a kind of solid sol, belonging to colloidal.
Color: gray, brown to black
Structure: crystalline
Hardness: 7
Main producing areas: Brazil, South America, Africa, etc.
Baryte
Chemical formula: BaSO4
Chemical composition: mainly barium sulfate, sometimes containing calcium and other impurities
Mineral group: sulfate minerals
Color: colorless and transparent (pure), various colors (with impurities)
Streak: white
Luster: vitreous or nacreous (cleavage surface)
Hardness: 3-3.5
Specific weight: 4.0-4.6
Crystal system: orthorhombic
Purification technology: hand-picking method, gravity separation, magnetic separation, flotation, calcination, leaching, etc.
Uses: weighting agent for drilling mud, various barium compounds, filler, cement industry, road construction, etc.
Natural platinum
Types: raw ore and ore sand
Color: silver white to dark grey
Streak: white or silvery gray
Transparency: opacity
Luster: metallic
Fracture: hackly
Hardness: 4-4.5
Density: 15-19
Cleavage: none
Melting point: 1774 ℃
Property: ductility
Distribution: in basic igneous rock or ultrabasic igneous rock such as olivine gabbro, pyroxenite, peridotite and dunite
Crystal system: isometric
Main producing areas: Norilsk in Russia; Sudbury in Ontario, Canada; Transvaal in South Africa; Parts of Montana and Oregon in the USA; Western Australia.
Uses: Natural platinum is the main source of platinum. It is often used to make ornaments such as rings, bracelets and necklaces; for making high-grade chemical ware, or special alloy with nickel, etc.; used in the electric power industry, national defence industry, automobile contact reaction converter, etc.
Natural sulfur
Color: yellow
Streak: Light yellow
Luster: adamantine (crystal plane) and greasy (fracture surface)
Hardness: 1-2
Specific gravity: 2.05-2.08
Impurities: arsenic, tellurium, selenium, titanium, calcite, etc.
Uses: Natural sulfur is the basic materials of the chemical industry, mainly used in the manufacture of sulfuric acid, the rest is used for chemical products, such as detergent, synthetic resin, dye, medicine, petroleum catalyst, titanium white, etc. Its non-acid applications include papermaking, rayon, pharmaceuticals, dyes and glass.
Natural copper
Color: brownish-black or green
Streak: copper red
Transparency: opacity
Luster: metallic
Hardness: 2.5-3
Dense degree: 8.4-8.95
Cleavage: none
Other properties: good electrical and thermal conductivity
Distribution: primary hydrothermal deposit, lower oxidation zone of copper sulfide deposit and sandstone copper deposit
Main producing areas: Lake Superior in the USA; Turinsk in Russia; Montecatini in Italy; Daiye in Hubei Province China, etc.
Uses: copper ore mining; Copper and its alloys are widely used in electrical appliances, vehicles, marine industry and civil appliances.
Natural silver
Chemical composition: Au, Cu, Hg, etc.
Streak: silver
Transparency: opacity
Luster: metallic
Hardness: 2.5
Specific gravity: 10.1-11.1
Other properties: strong ductility, good electrical and thermal conductivity
Distribution: in secondary enrichment zones of middle and low-temperature hydrothermal deposits and sulfide deposits, as well as volcanic deposits and metamorphosed deposits.
Main producing areas: Kongsberg in Norway; Freiberg and Schneeberg in Saxony, Germany; Cobalt and Keeley in Ontario, Canada; and GreatBearLake in Columbia, British.
Uses: making alloy, welding flux, silver foil, silver salt, chemical instrument, sliver coin, etc. Since ancient times, silver has circulated as a precious metal in the form of currency.
