Minerals are naturally-occurring substances with specific chemical and physical properties that make them distinct among all forms of matter. Their characteristic atomic structures make each mineral distinct. Geologists classify minerals according to crystalline form or other physical attributes.
For instance, pyrite has an distinctive aroma and taste. Additionally, it fluoresces when exposed to light and can produce electricity under pressure.
Corundum
Corundum gemstones (ruby and sapphire) have long been treasured as precious gems, prized for their chatoyancy and asterism caused by mineral inclusions oriented along their crystal lattice structure.
Corundum is widely used for industrial abrasives such as emery paper and grinding wheels, being the hardest naturally occurring commercial stone. Lab-grown corundum can be found in cell phone components, satellite parts and lasers, with diffusion treatment used to enhance color.
Fluorite
Fluorite is an invaluable mineral, used extensively across a range of chemical, metallurgical and ceramic processes. Additionally, it serves as a source of fluorine and hydrofluoric acid production; and specimens with exceptional color or clarity may even be cut into gemstones for jewelry purposes.
Fluorite has earned its name as “The Genius Stone,” thanks to its ability to clear mental fog, spark new ideas, and foster fresh perspectives. Fluorite can also reduce stress while improving balance and coordination.
Barite
Barite is a versatile industrial mineral with numerous applications in various fields. Primarily mined for heavy drilling mud production in the petroleum industry, barite can also be found used as ceramic glaze, radiation shielding and paint applications.
Sand Roses or Barite Roses can often be found shaped as crystal formations resembling flowers, known as Sand Roses or Barite Roses. Sand Roses can also be used as meditation stones to help focus and connect with one’s inner wisdom.
Sphalerite
Its healing properties make this stone well-known; its vibration resonates within the sacral chakra to balance male and female energies as well as activating any dormant psychic gifts that might exist.
Sphalerite is a black or dark gray zinc sulfide with a resinous to adamantine luster that crystallizes into face-centered cubic zincblende crystal structure. Additionally, small amounts of iron, gallium and indium may exist within its chemical makeup.
Galena
Galena (PbS) is the chief ore mineral for lead. It occurs worldwide in metalliferous veins.
Hobbs (1895) identified galena cubes and octahedra found in aggregates at Yellowstone diggings east of Mineral Point that may either lie along an A4 symmetry axis to give pseudotetragonal symmetry or along an A3 axis, producing pseudohexagonal symmetry.
Hematite
Hematite can help support circulation by purifying blood and preventing anemia, soothing pain relief and decreasing inflammation.
Hematite is known to possess a soothing energy and makes an ideal meditation stone, helping reduce social anxiety while simultaneously improving memory and stimulating logical thought processes.
Hematite can be easily cleansed by using sage smoke to smudge it or placing it under sunlight or moonlight, making it an excellent stone to help shield one’s aura.
Halite
Halite can be found in areas with dry climates that cause seawater to evaporate and deposit saline deposits on land, known as evaporite deposits. These massive beds of rock salt may form marine or non-marine locations with repeating layers of halite, gypsum, anhydrite and native sulfur deposits.
Halite typically appears colorless or white but may contain impurities with tints of pink, blue, or yellow that lend it light shades of color. It features perfect cubic cleavage and vitreous luster.
Gypsum
Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral that can be ground into a fine powder before being heated until most of its moisture has been extracted (calcination). Once processed, this pliable material can easily be formed into shapes for building materials such as plasterboard and drywall applications.
Gypsum mixed into soil helps prevent water runoff and erosion, improve soil composition, increase infiltration rates, balance micro-nutrients, and promote healthy plant growth.
Talc
Talc is a soft mineral used extensively throughout industry – from paper manufacturing and rubber glove production, filler/whitener in paint applications and high temperature lubricants, all the way to cosmetic applications such as talcum powder.
Crushed into a fine powder known as “talcum powder,” it absorbs moisture, odor, and oils as a lubricant; furthermore it’s often found as carved rocks known as soapstone.
Biotite
Pegmatites contain numerous types of igneous rocks containing potassium-bearing minerals such as magnetite. Magnetite acts both as an iron-bearing phase in granitic rocks and as a potassium-bearing mineral in mafic ones, making up one component of each.
It has an impeccable cleavage with vitreous luster on both faces of its cleavage, named for Jean Baptiste Biot, a French scientist who used polarized light to study minerals.
Vermiculite contains mica which is widely used to add sparkle and shine to paints, while simultaneously acting as a natural deodorant.
