Minerals

Moonstone is a feldspar mineral that belongs to the group of minerals known as plagioclase. It is known for its iridescent sheen, which is caused by light scattering within microscopic layers of feldspar. The color of moonstone can range from colorless to milky white, gray, yellow, green, or pink, depending on the presence of other minerals or impurities.Moonstone has a hardness of 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale, making it relatively durable and suitable for use in jewelry. Its density ranges from 2.55 to 2.58 g/cm3. Moonstone is commonly found in metamorphic and igneous rocks and can be found in various...

Heliodor, also known as golden beryl, is a light to medium yellow variety of the mineral beryl. Beryl is a silicate mineral that contains both aluminum and beryllium. It typically forms in pegmatites, which are coarse-grained igneous rocks that form from the slow cooling of magma.Heliodor gets its yellow color from the presence of iron impurities in the crystal lattice structure of the beryl. The intensity of the color can vary depending on the amount of iron present, with some specimens being a pale yellow and others being a deep golden yellow.Heliodor has a hardness of 7.5-8 on the Mohs scale, which...

Cinnabar is a bright red mineral that is primarily composed of mercury sulfide. It is a highly valuable mineral due to its use in the production of mercury, which has been used for centuries for various purposes including the manufacture of thermometers, barometers, and fluorescent lamps.Cinnabar is found in many locations around the world, including Spain, Italy, China, Mexico, and the United States. Some of the largest and most beautiful specimens of Cinnabar have been found in China, where it has been mined for over 2,000 years.The mineral has a distinct, deep red color that is highly prized by collectors...

Titanite, also known as sphene, is a calcium titanium nesosilicate mineral with the chemical formula CaTiSiO5. It typically occurs in metamorphic and igneous rocks, particularly those of granitic and syenitic composition. Titanite is a relatively rare mineral, but it can be found in a variety of localities around the world.The crystal structure of Titanite consists of a framework of SiO4 tetrahedra, with additional titanium cations and calcium cations occupying specific sites within the framework. This gives Titanite its characteristic brown, yellow, or green coloration, which can sometimes be quite vivid.One of the most interesting properties of Titanite is its strong...