{"version":12677,"generated":"2026-08-21T09:06:57+00:00","items":[{"id":4907,"title":"Bismutotantalite","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/bismutotantalite/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bismutotantalite.jpg","excerpt":"Bismutotantalite is a rare heavy tantalum-bismuth oxide mineral belonging to the columbite-tantalite group, crystallizing in the orthorhombic crystal system. Characterized by an exceptionally high specific gravity (up to 8.98–9.0 g/cm³), sub-adamantine to resinous luster, and high refractive indices, it occurs as a late-stage accessory mineral in highly fractionated, lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) enriched granitic pegmatites.","formula":"BiTaO₄","search":"","color":["brown","black"],"wearability":"poor","countries":["australia","brazil","madagascar","mozambique","namibia","rwanda","uganda","united_states"],"hardness_min":5,"hardness_max":5.5,"search_terms":["Bismutotantalite","Bismuthian tantalite, Bismuth tantalite","BiTaO₄","Btt","Bismutotantalite is a rare heavy tantalum-bismuth oxide mineral belonging to the columbite-tantalite group, crystallizing in the orthorhombic crystal system. Characterized by an exceptionally high specific gravity (up to 8.98–9.0 g/cm³), sub-adamantine to resinous luster, and high refractive indices, it occurs as a late-stage accessory mineral in highly fractionated, lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) enriched granitic pegmatites.","Bismuth (Bi), Tantalum (Ta), Oxygen (O)","mineral_species","04.DG.10 (Class: Oxides; Division: Metal:Oxygen = 1:2 and similar; Group: With large to medium-sized cations; with Ta, Nb, etc. - Stibiotantalite Group)","08.01.03.01 (Multiple Oxides with Nb, Ta, and Ti: A(XO₄) Type - Stibiotantalite Series)","Orthorhombic","false, true","5.0","5.5","Stibiotantalite Group (Oxides)","australia, brazil, madagascar, mozambique, namibia, rwanda, uganda, united_states","Poor"]},{"id":4910,"title":"Cattierite","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/cattierite/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/cattierite.jpg","excerpt":"Cattierite is a rare cobalt sulfide mineral with the chemical formula CoS₂, belonging to the pyrite group. First discovered in the rich stratiform copper-cobalt deposits of the Katanga Copperbelt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it typically occurs as metallic pinkish-gray to dark gray microscopic crystals, cubes, and granular aggregates associated with other base-metal sulfides.","formula":"CoS₂","search":"","color":["pink","gray","black"],"wearability":"poor","countries":["australia","austria","canada","democratic_republic_of_the_congo","finland","germany","morocco","russia","united_states","zambia"],"hardness_min":4,"hardness_max":4.5,"search_terms":["Cattierite","Cobalt Disulfide, Cattierit, Каттьерит","CoS₂","Ctr","Cattierite is a rare cobalt sulfide mineral with the chemical formula CoS₂, belonging to the pyrite group. First discovered in the rich stratiform copper-cobalt deposits of the Katanga Copperbelt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it typically occurs as metallic pinkish-gray to dark gray microscopic crystals, cubes, and granular aggregates associated with other base-metal sulfides.","Co, S","mineral_species","02.EB.05a","02.12.01.04","Isometric","false, true","4.0","4.5","Pyrite Group","australia, austria, canada, democratic_republic_of_the_congo, finland, germany, morocco, russia, united_states, zambia","Poor"]},{"id":4908,"title":"Delhayelite","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/delhayelite/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/delhayelite.jpg","excerpt":"Delhayelite is a rare, structurally complex hydrous potassium-calcium-sodium phyllosilicate mineral containing essential volatile halogens and sulfate anions (Cl, F, and SO₄²⁻). Initially discovered in the silica-undersaturated peralkaline nephelinite lavas of Mount Shaheru in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system and serves as an important indicator mineral for late-stage volatile...","formula":"K₇Na₃Ca₅[Al₆Si₁₄O₃₈]F₄Cl₂(SO₄) · 2H₂O","search":"","color":["colorless","orangy_yellow","yellow","white","gray","brown"],"wearability":"poor","countries":["democratic_republic_of_the_congo","morocco","russia","tanzania"],"hardness_min":3.5,"hardness_max":4,"search_terms":["Delhayelite","IMA 1961-008; Potassium calcium sodium aluminosilicate chloride fluoride sulfate","K₇Na₃Ca₅[Al₆Si₁₄O₃₈]F₄Cl₂(SO₄) · 2H₂O","Dlh","Delhayelite is a rare, structurally complex hydrous potassium-calcium-sodium phyllosilicate mineral containing essential volatile halogens and sulfate anions (Cl, F, and SO₄²⁻). Initially discovered in the silica-undersaturated peralkaline nephelinite lavas of Mount Shaheru in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system and serves as an important indicator mineral for late-stage volatile...","Delhayelite is a rare, structurally complex hydrous potassium-calcium-sodium phyllosilicate mineral containing essential volatile halogens and sulfate anions (Cl, F, and SO₄²⁻). Initially discovered in the silica-undersaturated peralkaline nephelinite lavas of Mount Shaheru in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system and serves as an important indicator mineral for late-stage volatile and alkali enrichment in hyper-agpaitic igneous environments.","Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Calcium (Ca), Aluminum (Al), Silicon (Si), Oxygen (O), Fluorine (F), Chlorine (Cl), Sulfur (S), Hydrogen (H)","mineral_species","09.EA.10","74.03.02.01","Orthorhombic","true, false","3.5","4.0","Delhayelite Group","democratic_republic_of_the_congo, morocco, russia, tanzania","Poor"]},{"id":250,"title":"Forsterite","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/forsterite/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Forsterite-768x510.jpg","excerpt":"Forsterite is the magnesium-rich endmember of the olivine solid-solution series (Mg₂SiO₄ - Fe₂SiO₄), crystallizing in the orthorhombic crystal system. As an essential rock-forming orthosilicate (nesosilicate) mineral, it constitutes the dominant volumetric phase of Earth's upper mantle (peridotite/dunite) and is widespread in ultramafic igneous rocks, contact-metamorphosed dolomitic limestones, and primitive chondritic meteorites. Gem-quality intermediate varieties rich in...","formula":"Mg₂SiO₄","search":"","color":["colorless","yellow","greenish_yellow","yellow_green_or_green_yellow","yellowish_green","green","white","gray"],"wearability":"good","countries":["australia","brazil","canada","china","egypt","finland","germany","italy","myanmar","norway","pakistan","russia","south_africa","sri_lanka","united_states"],"hardness_min":6.5,"hardness_max":7,"search_terms":["Forsterite","Magnesium olivine, Peridot (gem variety), Chrysolite (archaic), Bolitas, White olivine","Mg₂SiO₄","Fo","Forsterite is the magnesium-rich endmember of the olivine solid-solution series (Mg₂SiO₄ - Fe₂SiO₄), crystallizing in the orthorhombic crystal system. As an essential rock-forming orthosilicate (nesosilicate) mineral, it constitutes the dominant volumetric phase of Earth's upper mantle (peridotite/dunite) and is widespread in ultramafic igneous rocks, contact-metamorphosed dolomitic limestones, and primitive chondritic meteorites. Gem-quality intermediate varieties rich in...","Forsterite is the magnesium-rich endmember of the olivine solid-solution series (Mg₂SiO₄ - Fe₂SiO₄), crystallizing in the orthorhombic crystal system. As an essential rock-forming orthosilicate (nesosilicate) mineral, it constitutes the dominant volumetric phase of Earth's upper mantle (peridotite/dunite) and is widespread in ultramafic igneous rocks, contact-metamorphosed dolomitic limestones, and primitive chondritic meteorites. Gem-quality intermediate varieties rich in the forsterite component are celebrated worldwide as Peridot.","Mg, Si, O","mineral_species","09.AC.05","51.03.01.01","Orthorhombic","true, false","6.5","7.0","Olivine Group","australia, brazil, canada, china, egypt, finland, germany, italy, myanmar, norway, pakistan, russia, south_africa, sri_lanka, united_states","Good"]},{"id":251,"title":"Galena","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/galena/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Galena-768x512.jpg","excerpt":"Galena is the primary natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide (PbS), crystallizing in the isometric crystal system with a halite-type rock-salt crystal structure. As the world's most critical and abundant ore of lead—and a major historical source of byproduct silver—galena is celebrated for its high specific gravity (~7.6), splendent metallic luster, lead-gray streak, and perfect cubic...","formula":"PbS","search":"","color":["gray","black"],"wearability":"display_only","countries":["argentina","australia","austria","bolivia","bulgaria","canada","chile","china","czechia","france","germany","ireland","italy","japan","kazakhstan","mexico","morocco","namibia","peru","poland","romania","russia","south_africa","spain","sweden","switzerland","united_kingdom","united_states"],"hardness_min":2.5,"hardness_max":2.75,"search_terms":["Galena","Lead glance, Blue lead, Plumbago (archaic), Galenite, Bleiglanz","PbS","Gn","Galena is the primary natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide (PbS), crystallizing in the isometric crystal system with a halite-type rock-salt crystal structure. As the world's most critical and abundant ore of lead—and a major historical source of byproduct silver—galena is celebrated for its high specific gravity (~7.6), splendent metallic luster, lead-gray streak, and perfect cubic...","Galena is the primary natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide (PbS), crystallizing in the isometric crystal system with a halite-type rock-salt crystal structure. As the world's most critical and abundant ore of lead—and a major historical source of byproduct silver—galena is celebrated for its high specific gravity (~7.6), splendent metallic luster, lead-gray streak, and perfect cubic cleavage along three perpendicular planes.","Pb, S","mineral_species","02.CD.10","02.08.01.01","Isometric (cubic)","false, true","2.5","2.75","Galena Group","argentina, australia, austria, bolivia, bulgaria, canada, chile, china, czechia, france, germany, ireland, italy, japan, kazakhstan, mexico, morocco, namibia, peru, poland, romania, russia, south_africa, spain, sweden, switzerland, united_kingdom, united_states","Display only"]},{"id":4909,"title":"Geversite","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/geversite/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/geversite.jpg","excerpt":"Geversite is a rare platinum-group mineral (PGM) with the chemical composition PtSb₂, crystallizing in the isometric pyrite structure type. First described from the Driekop Mine in the Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa, it forms microscopic metallic grains, euhedral cubes, and complex intergrowths typically hosted in ultramafic rocks, chromitites, and magmatic sulfide deposits.","formula":"PtSb₂","search":"","color":["white","gray"],"wearability":"poor","countries":["australia","canada","china","finland","india","russia","south_africa","tanzania","united_states","zimbabwe"],"hardness_min":4.5,"hardness_max":5.5,"search_terms":["Geversite","Platinum Diantimonide, Geversit, Геверсит","PtSb₂","Gev","Geversite is a rare platinum-group mineral (PGM) with the chemical composition PtSb₂, crystallizing in the isometric pyrite structure type. First described from the Driekop Mine in the Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa, it forms microscopic metallic grains, euhedral cubes, and complex intergrowths typically hosted in ultramafic rocks, chromitites, and magmatic sulfide deposits.","Pt, Sb","mineral_species","02.EB.05a","02.12.01.03","Isometric","false, true","4.5","5.5","Pyrite Group","australia, canada, china, finland, india, russia, south_africa, tanzania, united_states, zimbabwe","Poor"]},{"id":257,"title":"Halite","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/halite/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Halite-768x768.png","excerpt":"Halite is the mineral form of sodium chloride (NaCl), commonly known as rock salt. It forms isometric crystals in evaporite deposits and is essential to human life, industry, and chemical production.","formula":"NaCl","search":"","color":["colorless","white"],"wearability":"poor","countries":["algeria","argentina","australia","austria","bolivia","canada","chile","china","egypt","ethiopia","germany","iran","israel","kazakhstan","mexico","pakistan","poland","romania","russia","spain","tunisia","ukraine","united_kingdom","united_states"],"hardness_min":2,"hardness_max":2.5,"search_terms":["Halite","Rock salt, Table salt, Common salt","NaCl","Hlt","Halite is the mineral form of sodium chloride (NaCl), commonly known as rock salt. It forms isometric crystals in evaporite deposits and is essential to human life, industry, and chemical production.","Sodium (Na), Chlorine (Cl)","mineral_species","03.AA.20","09.01.01.01","Isometric (Cubic)","true, false","2","2.5","Halides (Halite Group)","algeria, argentina, australia, austria, bolivia, canada, chile, china, egypt, ethiopia, germany, iran, israel, kazakhstan, mexico, pakistan, poland, romania, russia, spain, tunisia, ukraine, united_kingdom, united_states","Poor"]},{"id":4906,"title":"Manandonite","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/manandonite/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/manandonite-768x596.jpg","excerpt":"Manandonite is an extraordinarily rare, lithium- and boron-bearing trioctahedral-dioctahedral phyllosilicate mineral species belonging structurally to the 1:1 serpentine-kaolinite group. First documented in the highly fractionated granitic pegmatites of Madagascar, it is unique in mineralogy as one of the few sheet silicates that accommodates essential structural boron into the tetrahedral layers along with essential octahedral lithium and...","formula":"Li₂Al₄(Si₂AlB)O₁₀₈","search":"","color":["colorless","white"],"wearability":"poor","countries":["czechia","madagascar","russia"],"hardness_min":2.5,"hardness_max":3.5,"search_terms":["Manandonite","Boron-bearing serpentine, Boro-corundophilite, Manandonite-2H, Boron chlorite (archaic)","Li₂Al₄(Si₂AlB)O₁₀₈","Mnd","Manandonite is an extraordinarily rare, lithium- and boron-bearing trioctahedral-dioctahedral phyllosilicate mineral species belonging structurally to the 1:1 serpentine-kaolinite group. First documented in the highly fractionated granitic pegmatites of Madagascar, it is unique in mineralogy as one of the few sheet silicates that accommodates essential structural boron into the tetrahedral layers along with essential octahedral lithium and...","Manandonite is an extraordinarily rare, lithium- and boron-bearing trioctahedral-dioctahedral phyllosilicate mineral species belonging structurally to the 1:1 serpentine-kaolinite group. First documented in the highly fractionated granitic pegmatites of Madagascar, it is unique in mineralogy as one of the few sheet silicates that accommodates essential structural boron into the tetrahedral layers along with essential octahedral lithium and aluminum.","Lithium (Li), Aluminum (Al), Boron (B), Silicon (Si), Oxygen (O), Hydrogen (H)","mineral_species","09.ED.15 (Class: Silicates; Division: Phyllosilicates; Subdivision: Phyllosilicates with kaolinite layers composed of 1:1 tetrahedral and octahedral sheets)","71.01.02c.03 (Phyllosilicates: Layered Silicates with 1:1 Layers - Trioctahedral and Interstratified)","Triclinic (pseudo-hexagonal / pseudo-monoclinic geometry)","true, false","2.5","3.5","Serpentine-Kaolinite Group (Phyllosilicates)","czechia, madagascar, russia","Poor"]},{"id":4905,"title":"Pseudorutile","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/pseudorutile/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Pseudorutile-2.gif","excerpt":"Pseudorutile is an intermediate titanium-iron oxide mineral formed primarily during the low-temperature weathering and progressive leaching of ilmenite in heavy mineral sand deposits. Structurally and chemically distinct from rutile and ilmenite, it plays a vital transitional role in the supergene alteration sequence from ilmenite to leucoxene and secondary rutile/anatase, making it an essential phase in global...","formula":"Fe³⁺₂Ti₃O₉","search":"","color":["brown","black"],"wearability":"display_only","countries":["australia","brazil","india","madagascar","norway","south_africa","united_states"],"hardness_min":3,"hardness_max":4,"search_terms":["Pseudorutile","Acharavalite, Leucoxene (in part), Protolencoxene, Hydroxypseudorutile (related)","Fe³⁺₂Ti₃O₉","Prt","Pseudorutile is an intermediate titanium-iron oxide mineral formed primarily during the low-temperature weathering and progressive leaching of ilmenite in heavy mineral sand deposits. Structurally and chemically distinct from rutile and ilmenite, it plays a vital transitional role in the supergene alteration sequence from ilmenite to leucoxene and secondary rutile/anatase, making it an essential phase in global...","Pseudorutile is an intermediate titanium-iron oxide mineral formed primarily during the low-temperature weathering and progressive leaching of ilmenite in heavy mineral sand deposits. Structurally and chemically distinct from rutile and ilmenite, it plays a vital transitional role in the supergene alteration sequence from ilmenite to leucoxene and secondary rutile/anatase, making it an essential phase in global titanium placer mining and processing.","Fe, Ti, O","mineral_species","04.CB.05","04.03.09.01","Hexagonal","false, true","3.0","4.0","Pseudorutile Group / Oxides","australia, brazil, india, madagascar, norway, south_africa, united_states","Display only"]},{"id":188,"title":"Quartz","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/quartz/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Quartz-768x575.jpg","excerpt":"Quartz is the definitive low-temperature trigonal polymorph of silicon dioxide (SiO₂), stable up to 573 °C at ambient pressures. As the defining benchmark for Mohs hardness 7 and one of the most abundant rock-forming framework tectosilicates in the Earth's continental crust, quartz is renowned for its strong piezoelectricity, chemical durability, absence of cleavage, and extensive suite...","formula":"SiO₂","search":"","color":["colorless","purple","pink","yellow","green","white","gray","brown","black"],"wearability":"excellent","countries":["australia","austria","brazil","canada","china","france","germany","india","italy","japan","madagascar","mexico","namibia","norway","pakistan","peru","russia","south_africa","spain","switzerland","united_kingdom","united_states"],"hardness_min":7,"hardness_max":7,"search_terms":["Quartz","Alpha-quartz, Low-quartz, Rock crystal (macro-crystalline colorless), Silica, Quarz","SiO₂","Qtz","Quartz is the definitive low-temperature trigonal polymorph of silicon dioxide (SiO₂), stable up to 573 °C at ambient pressures. As the defining benchmark for Mohs hardness 7 and one of the most abundant rock-forming framework tectosilicates in the Earth's continental crust, quartz is renowned for its strong piezoelectricity, chemical durability, absence of cleavage, and extensive suite...","Quartz is the definitive low-temperature trigonal polymorph of silicon dioxide (SiO₂), stable up to 573 °C at ambient pressures. As the defining benchmark for Mohs hardness 7 and one of the most abundant rock-forming framework tectosilicates in the Earth's continental crust, quartz is renowned for its strong piezoelectricity, chemical durability, absence of cleavage, and extensive suite of colored macrocrystalline and microcrystalline (chalcedony) varieties.","Silicon (Si), Oxygen (O)","mineral_species","04.DA.05","75.01.03.01","Trigonal (low/alpha quartz); hexagonal symmetry for high/beta quartz above 573 °C","true, false","7","Quartz Group (Silicates / Oxides)","australia, austria, brazil, canada, china, france, germany, india, italy, japan, madagascar, mexico, namibia, norway, pakistan, peru, russia, south_africa, spain, switzerland, united_kingdom, united_states","Excellent"]},{"id":23,"title":"Ruby","url":"https://crystals.rocks/minerals/ruby/","image":"https://crystals.rocks/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/imgi_212_Cut_Ruby_Image-768x395.jpg","excerpt":"Ruby is the prestigious red, gem-quality variety of the mineral species corundum (aluminum oxide, Al₂O₃), colored predominantly by trace amounts of chromium (Cr³⁺ substituting for Al³⁺ in octahedral coordination). Renowned as one of the traditional cardinal gemstones, it exhibits exceptional Mohs hardness (9), high refractive indices, pronounced pleochroism, and vivid chromium-induced red fluorescence under longwave UV...","formula":"Al₂O₃:Cr","search":"","color":["reddish_purple","red_purple_or_purple_red","pink","red","orangy_red"],"wearability":"excellent","countries":["afghanistan","australia","cambodia","china","india","kenya","madagascar","mozambique","myanmar","nepal","north_macedonia","pakistan","russia","sri_lanka","tajikistan","tanzania","thailand","united_states","vietnam"],"hardness_min":9,"hardness_max":9,"search_terms":["Ruby","Red Corundum, Pigeon's Blood Ruby, Star Ruby, Oriental Ruby (archaic), Carbuncle (historical)","Al₂O₃:Cr","Crn","Ruby is the prestigious red, gem-quality variety of the mineral species corundum (aluminum oxide, Al₂O₃), colored predominantly by trace amounts of chromium (Cr³⁺ substituting for Al³⁺ in octahedral coordination). Renowned as one of the traditional cardinal gemstones, it exhibits exceptional Mohs hardness (9), high refractive indices, pronounced pleochroism, and vivid chromium-induced red fluorescence under longwave UV...","mineral_variety","04.CB.05","04.03.01.01","Al, O; typically trace Cr, Fe, Ti, V","Trigonal (rhombohedral)","false, true","9","afghanistan, australia, cambodia, china, india, kenya, madagascar, mozambique, myanmar, nepal, north_macedonia, pakistan, russia, sri_lanka, tajikistan, tanzania, thailand, united_states, vietnam","Ruby is the prestigious red, gem-quality variety of the mineral species corundum (aluminum oxide, Al₂O₃), colored predominantly by trace amounts of chromium (Cr³⁺ substituting for Al³⁺ in octahedral coordination). Renowned as one of the traditional cardinal gemstones, it exhibits exceptional Mohs hardness (9), high refractive indices, pronounced pleochroism, and vivid chromium-induced red fluorescence under longwave UV radiation.","Corundum Group (Oxides)","Excellent"]}]}