minerals – Emily Zawacki, Ph.D.

The Many Shades of Fluorite

July 15, 2015August 15, 2018 itssedimentary

When you’re first learning mineral identification, it’s tempting to use color as the main distinguishing factor. It’s the first visual clue you perceive, and we gauge so many other things in our lives by color. However, as many know, color is hardly ever a good property for accurately identifying minerals. Take these fluorite (CaF2) samples… Continue reading The Many Shades of Fluorite

Tourmaline on lepidolite

May 21, 2015August 15, 2018 itssedimentary

Tourmaline on Lepidolite Cruzeiro Mine; Mina’s Gerais, Brazil Image by author

Bornite<

January 29, 2015August 15, 2018 itssedimentary

Also known as “peacock ore” for its vibrant rainbow hues, Bornite is a copper iron sulfide (Cu5FeS4). Specimen from Mexico Image by author

Topics in Mineralogy | Amphiboles

August 5, 2014August 15, 2018 itssedimentary

Topics in Mineralogy | Pyroxenes

August 4, 2014August 15, 2018 itssedimentary

Apophyllite

July 30, 2014August 15, 2018 itssedimentary

Specimen from American Museum of Natural History - NYC Image by author

Tourmaline

July 26, 2014August 15, 2018 itssedimentary

Specimens from American Museum of Natural History - NYC Images by author

Malachite and azurite

July 23, 2014August 15, 2018 itssedimentary

All specimens from the American Museum of Natural History - NYC All images by author

Beryl crystals in pegmatite

July 20, 2014August 15, 2018 itssedimentary

Image by author

Tourmaline

July 17, 2014August 15, 2018 itssedimentary

Tourmaline (Elbaite) - Newry, Maine American Museum of Natural History Image by author