Mineral Guide Help

This help file illustrates how the display for every mineral works. All minerals are set up in the same format. The pink text portrays what each particular field describes. Blue, underlined text denotes hyperlinks for detailed explanations of applicable properties.

In every field, the help

image in the leftmost cells will take you directly to the help of that field. (i.e. the help for the Fracture field will take you here)

Chemical Formula	Describes the chemical formula, which is the elemental makeup of the mineral
Composition	Describes what elements are in the mineral and the varying structure
Variable Formula	Describes the variable formula, that is, possibilities of common elemental replacements of the mineral. For example, the mineral Adamite, Zn₂(AsO₄)(OH), frequently contains small amounts of Cu (copper) and Co (cobalt) replacing some Zn (zinc), thus the variable formula is (Zn,Cu,Co)₂(AsO₄)(OH). Underlined elements denote elements that can be absent and must be less in percentage than the element(s) not underlined in the same set of parenthesis. Any element not underlined must be present in an appreciable quantity. Please note that the "variable formula" field only displays elements that commonly replace part of an element in a given mineral. Other possible element replacements not mentioned may exist but only occur insignificantly or rarely. For example, the mineral Fluorite occasionally contains traces of Ce (cerium) and Y (yttrium), but the variable formula does not include those elements for they are too seldom present. This field is absent by minerals without a varient formula.
Color	Describes what color(s) the mineral is capable of having
Streak	Describes the streak color of the mineral
Hardness	Describes the hardness of the mineral in accordance with Mohs scale (1-10)
Crystal Forms and Aggregates	Describes the crystal system, crystal forms, and crystal aggregates of the mineral. The crystal system is displayed first, in italics and parenthesis [i.e. (Monoclinic)], and the crystal forms and aggregates follow. Trigonal minerals, which really belong to the hexagonal system, are written grouped together with all the other hexagonal minerals.
Transparency	Describes the transparency of the mineral; that is whether the mineral is transparent, translucent or opaque. Minerals that can occur in any variation of the three (i.e. transparent and translucent) are noted as such.
Specific Gravity	Describes the specific gravity (density) of the mineral. Specific gravity is measured by the relative comparison weight of water. For example, if a mineral has a specific gravity of 3.6, than that mineral is 3.6 times heavier than water.
Luster	Describes the luster of the mineral
Cleavage	Describes the mineral's cleavage. Cleavage is measured in this guide by quality and the amount of sides that have cleavage. The first number describes the quality of cleavage (on a scale of 1-3 \| 1=perfect; 2=good; 3=poor) ,and the second number describes the number of directions that have the cleavage. If all sides have the same cleavage, than all sides is written instead of a number. So a mineral with a cleavage of 1,2 has perfect cleavage in 2 directions. If the word Indiscernible is written in this field, than the cleavage is so poor it is not recognizable. If the word None is written in this field, then the mineral has no cleavage. If a mineral exhibits different cleavage on different sides of the mineral, than there will be two cleavage indicators separated by a semi-colon (;). For example, if the cleavage of a mineral is written 1,2 ; 3,1, then it has perfect cleavage in one direction, and poor cleavage on two other directions. This field also describes the type of cleavage the mineral exhibits (if applicable), such as cubic, octahedral, rhombohedral, prismatic, and basal. The type of cleavage is separated by a - (dash), so for example a mineral with perfect basal cleavage would be written as 1,1 - basal. (basal cleavage is only on one side).
Fracture	Describes the fracture (the way a mineral breaks) of the mineral
Tenacity	Describes the tenacity (reactions to certain stresses) of a mineral
Other ID Marks	Describes any other distinct feature not mentioned on the above list. (some examples: taste, smell, fluorescence, magnetism, etc.) [Note: This field may be absent if there is no text befitting it.]
Other Names	Displays other names which are synonymous with that mineral. A box with a check before the name describes a name which is commonly used, and a box with an x describes a name which is rarely used or made up. [Note: This field may be absent if there is no text befitting it.]
Varieties	Displays and explains varieties of that mineral. A box with a check before the name describes a name which is acceptable to mineralogists and is commonly used, and a box with an x describes a name is not accepted among most mineralogists and/or is not commonly used. [Note: This field may be absent if there is no text befitting it.]
Polymorphs	Displays polymorphs of the mineral. Most minerals do not have polymorphs, therefore regarding most minerals this entry is absent.
In Group	Describes what chemical group and subgroup the mineral belongs to. Differentiation between the group and subgroup is indicated by a semicolon (;). For example, the mineral Corundum belongs to the group Oxides ; Simple Oxides
All About	Additional information about the mineral. This field may be absent by minerals without any suitable information.
Uses	Describes the various uses of the mineral, whether industrially, commercially, scientifically, or mineralogically. Note: There are many minerals that are elements that are found in a mostly pure state (i.e. Gold, Silver, Lead), but due to their rareness are not used as ores of the element. The use of the element will anyhow be mentioned there. This field may be absent by minerals without any suitable information.
Striking Features	Displays special properties that the mineral exhibits. (For example: great hardness, bright color, heaviness, etc.)
Complex Tests	Displays other tests (such as acid and X-ray tests) that can identify the minerals. These are mostly complex tests that are not for the amateur. [Note: This field may be absent if there is no text befitting it.]
Popularity	Displays on a scale of 1 to 4 how popular the mineral. (1 = Very popular - even non-mineral collectors are familiar with the mineral. 2 = Popular among mineral collectors; most mineral collectors know of the mineral. 3 = Somewhat abstract. Some mineral collectors don't know of the mineral. 4 = Abstract. Basically unheard of, in exception to a few mineral collectors and science professors.
Prevalence	Displays on a scale of 1 to 3 how common the mineral is: 1 being very common and 3 being rare. This field is also dependant on how accessible and readily available a mineral is to collectors.
Demand	Displays on a scale of 1 to 3 how much of a demand (industrially or for collectors) there is for the mineral: 1 - very much in demand, 3 - of little use.
Distinguishing Similar Minerals	Displays a list of minerals that are similar and can be confused with the mineral, and shows the similar mineral's property(s) that differentiate it from the mineral.
Commonly Occurs With	Displays a list of minerals and sometimes rocks that the mineral many times occurs with. The rocks are displayed in (parenthesis)
Noteworthy Localities	Displays a list of important localities of the mineral. Although this guide displays localities worldwide, primary focus is on U.S. occurrences. NOTE: "Co." is an abbreviation of "county"
Picture Icon Links	Displays small 50 x 50 pixel images that link you to a larger JPEG image of the mineral. When there are no images availible, it is mentioned in this field.
Picture Links	Hyperlinks to the above mentioned mineral images, properly labeled to correspond to the above images. When there are no images availible, it is mentioned in this field.

* The mineral browser (the page this help file is depicting) can display more than one mineral if the minerals are almost identical, and the separation will be denoted by a small "and" (i.e. Acanthite and Argentite). It may also display mineral groups and series (i.e. Olivine Group)