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Minerals

Naturally occurring substance that is solid and stable at room temperature, representable by a chemical formula, usually abiogenic, and has an ordered atomic structure. It is different from a rock, which can be an aggregate of minerals or non-minerals, and does not have a specific chemical composition. The general definition of a mineral encompasses the following criteria: 1 - Naturally occurring 2 - Stable at room temperature 3 - Represented by a chemical formula 4 - Usually abiogenic 5 - Ordered atomic arrangement

Contributors in Minerals

Minerals

saponite

Geology; Minerals

Saponite is a trioctahedral mineral of the smectite group. Its chemical formula is Ca 0.25 (Mg,Fe) 3 ((Si,Al) 4 O 10 )(OH) 2 ·n(H 2 O). It is soluble in sulfuric acid. It was first described in 1840 ...

chalcanthite

Geology; Minerals

Chalcanthite, whose name derives from the Greek, chalkos and anthos, meaning copper flower, is a richly-colored blue/green water-soluble sulfate mineral CuSO 4 ·5H 2 O. It is commonly found in the ...

kieserite

Geology; Minerals

Kieserite is a highly unstable magnesium sulfate mineral (MgSO 4 ·H 2 O). It has a vitreous luster and it is colorless, grayish-white or yellowish. Its hardness is 3.5 and it has a monoclinic crystal ...

sweetite

Geology; Minerals

Sweetite has a general formula of Zn(OH) 2 . The name is given after a curator of mineral department of The British Museum, Jessie May Sweet (1901-1979). It occurs in an oxidized vein in limestone ...

boltwoodite

Geology; Minerals

Boltwoodite is a hydrated potassium uranyl silicate mineral with formula HK(UO 2 )(SiO 4 )·1.5(H 2 O). It is formed from the oxidation and alteration of primary uranium ores. It takes the form of a ...

drysdallite

Geology; Minerals

Drysdallite is a rare molybdenum selenium sulfide mineral with formula Mo(Se,S) 2 . It crystallizes in the hexagonal system as small pyramidal crystals or in cleavable masses. It is an opaque ...

northupite

Geology; Minerals

Northupite is an uncommon evaporite mineral, with the chemical formula Na 3 Mg(CO 3 ) 2 Cl. It occurs as colourless to dark grey or brown octahedral crystals and as globular masses. In synthetic ...

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