20 most common minerals
Muscovite mica
Muscovite mica is measured 2.0 to 2.5 on the Mohs scale which is very soft. That is how much you finger nail is measured on the Mohs scale.It is usually colorless,white or silver, or sometimes yellow or brown.Its cleavage is single perfect cleavage to produce thin sheets or plates. And its streak is white. All this information was found at this website:
www.geo.umn.edu/courses/1001/minerals/muscovite.shtml
www.geo.umn.edu/courses/1001/minerals/muscovite.shtml
Biotite mica
Biotite mica is a large group of black mica that are commonly found in igneous and metamorphic rock. Its color is black, dark green, and dark brown and its streak is white to gray, flakes often produce. Biotite mica's cleavage is basal and is measured 2.5 to 3 on the Mohs scale. Its luster is vitreous and its crystal system is monoclinic. The minerals in this rock are Annite, Phlogopite, Siderophyllite, Eastonite, Flourannite, and Flourophlogopite. All of the following information was found at: http://geology.com.
Sulfur
Sulfur has a bright yellow color and its streak is also yellow. Its luster is resinous and has no cleavage. Sulfur is measured 1.5 -2.5 on the Mohs scale and its crystal system is orthorhombic. People use sulfur for sulfuric acid, fertilizers, insecticides, Fungicides, gunpowder, pharmaceuticals, and sulfur compounds. All the following information was found at: http://geology.com and the photo was found at: http://mokhtarco.com.
Pyrite
Pyrite has a brass yellow often tarnished to dull brass color. It has a greenish black to brownish black streak and its cleavage breaks down with a conchoidal fracture. On the Mohs scale it is measured 6-6.5 which is pretty hard if you think about it. Its crystal system is isometric and its luster is metallic. All the following information was found at: http://geology.com.
Magnetite
Magnetite has a black color and its streak is black. Its luster is metallic to sub metallic and has no cleavage. It is measured 5.5-6.5 on the Mohs scale and crystal system is Isometric. All the following information was found at: http://geology.com. The picture was found at: http://www.charmsoflight.com.
Hematite
Hematite has a steel gray to black and reddish brown to black color. Its streak is red to reddish brown and its luster is metallic. It has no cleavage and it is measured 5-6 on the Mohs scale. Its crystal system is hexagonal. People use this mineral for iron ore and pigment. All this information was found at: http://geology.com and the picture was found at: http://upload.wikimedia.org
Galena
Galena's fresh surfaces are bright silver in color with a bright metallic with a bright metallic luster that tarnishes to a dull lead gray. Its streak is lead gray to black and its luster is metallic on fresh surfaces then later tarnishes dull. Its cleavage has a perfect, cubic at three directions at right angles and measures 2.5+ on the Mohs scale. Its crystal system is isometric. All the following information was found at: http://geology.com and the picture was found at: http://www.minbulfos.com.
Olivine
Olivine has an olive to yellowish color and its streak is colorless. Its luster is vitreous and has no cleavage. It measured 6.5-7 on the Mohs scale and its crystal system is orthorhombic. All this information was found at: http://geology.com and the picture was found at: http://regentsearth.com.
Azurite
We use this mineral to minor ore of copper, gemstone, ornamental stone and its color is azure blue. Its streak is light blue and its luster is vitreous. It is measured 3.5- 4 on the Mohs scale and its crystal system is monoclinic. Also its cleavage is prismatic and perfect. All this information was found at: http://geology.com and the picture was found at: http://tyrkiet.se/lapis/Lapis-Lazuli_files/azurite5.jpg
Malachite
Malachite has a rich green color and is measured 3.5 on the Mohs scale which is relatively soft if you ask me. The following information was found at: http://skywalker.cochise.edu and the picture was found at: http://skywalker.cochise.edu.
Talc
Talc has is usually green, white, gray, brown, or colorless and has pearly luster. It is the softest mineral and is measured a 1 on the Mohs scale. It has a perfect cleavage that follows planes between the weakly bonded sheets. And it is the most common in your daily life and is used for almost everything. All the following information was found at: http://geology.com and the picture was found at: http://www.talc-powder.com.
Gypsum
Gypsum has a clear, colorless, white, gray, yellow, red, brown color. Its streak is white and its luster is vitreous. Its cleavage is perfect and is measured 2 on the Mohs scale. And its crystal system is monoclinic. All this information was found at: http://geology.com and the picture was found at: http://4.bp.blogspot.com.
Milky Quartz
The milky Quartz has a white color and is measured 7 on the Mohs scale. The milky quartz is shiny and translucent and has no cleavage. Milky Quartz are massive but well formed crystals. All this information was found at: http://skywalker.cochise.edu and the picture was found at: http://upload.wikimedia.org.
Rose Quartz
The Rose Quartz is a variety of massive, translucent, quartz that has a pink color. It has no cleavage and a has a shiny surface. And is also measured 7 on the Mohs Scale. Two major occurrences of the Rose Quartz are in Maine and the Black Hills of South Dakota. All this information found at: http://skywalker.cochise.edu and the picture was found at: http://4.bp.blogspot.com.
Amethyst
Amethyst has a purple color and its luster is usually vitreous. Amethyst is used as a gemstone and it can occur as well-formed quartz and crystals in geodes or a deformed crystal in a mineral vein. All this information found at: http://skywalker.cochise.edu and the picture was found at: http://www.gggems.com.
Agate
Agate is a cryptocrystalline variety of quartz which means fiber quartzes. It forms as a series of colored bands and rough agate has a dull to waxy texture and polishes to a high gloss and is a semi- precious gemstone.All this information was found at: http://skywalker.cochise.edu and the picture was fond at: http://puyallupgemclub.org.
Orthoclase Feldspar
Orthoclase feldspar has a white, gray, flesh pink, reddish, yellow or green color. Its streak is white and its luster is vitreous. It has a perfect cleavage and is measured a 6-6.5 on the Mohs scale. And its crystal system is monoclinic. All this information was found at: http://geology.com and the picture was found at: http://skywalker.cochise.edu.
Calcite
Calcite is usually white, colorless, gray, red, green, blue, yellow, brown, or orange color.Its streak is white and its luster is vitreous.It is measured a 3 on the Mohs scale and has a perfect and rhombohedral cleavage. And its crystal system is hexagonal. All this information was found at: http://geology.com and the picture was found at: http://www.mineral-forum.com.
Fluorite
Fluorite has a typical purple, green, and yellow color. Its streak is white and its luster is vitreous. It has four directions of perfect cleavage and is measured a 4 on the Mohs scale. Its crystal system is isometric. All this information was found at: http://geology.com and the picture was found at: http://upload.wikimedia.org.
Graphite
Graphite has a black color and its streak is also black. Its luster is dull metallic and it is measured a 1-2 on the Mohs scale. It has a perfect cleavage and its crystal system is hexagonal. Also we use graphite to make pencil lead, oil, and lubricant.All the information and picture was found at: http://geology.com.