Along with the colors and crystal forms of minerals, their mechanical properties such as the hardness. tenacity, and habits of structural failure can be very useful tools in identifying an unknown mineral. In this first Blog on the use of mechanical properties in identifying minerals I’ll focus on hardness and describe the Moh’s Hardness Scale,. . . Read More

What Are You Curious About? I am from Wisconsin, staying in Winslow with girlfriend who is a nurse.. I just became interested in rocks and minerals and need help identifying some specimens…. thank you Your specimens are three forms of quartz, in which the crystals are of microscopic size so you can’t see their shape.. . . Read More

According to the USGS website, “A mineral is a naturally occurring inorganic element or compound having an orderly internal structure and characteristic chemical composition, crystal form, and physical properties”. “A rock is an aggregate of one or more mineral, or a body of undifferentiated mineral matter”. For more information about rocks and minerals, be sure. . . Read More