Browse by Mineral Class

9

Largest mineral class, containing silicon-oxygen tetrahedra. Includes tectosilicates (quartz, feldspar), nesosilicates (olivine, garnet), cyclosilicates (beryl, tourmaline), inosilicates (pyroxenes), sorosilicates (epidote), and phyllosilicates (serpentine).

4

Compounds of oxygen with metals. Includes important gem minerals like corundum (ruby, sapphire), chrysoberyl (alexandrite), spinel, and hematite.

5

Minerals containing the carbonate ion (CO3). Includes calcite, aragonite, malachite, azurite, rhodochrosite, and smithsonite.

2

Compounds of sulfur with metals. The gem mineral sphalerite belongs to this class.

8

Minerals containing the phosphate ion (PO4). Includes apatite, turquoise, variscite, and purpurite.

3

Minerals formed from halogen elements (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine). Fluorite is the primary gem halide.

1

Elements that occur naturally in pure form. Diamond (pure carbon) is the primary gem native element.

6

Minerals containing the borate ion (BO3 or BO4). Includes rare gem minerals like jeremejevite, painite, and sinhalite.

Gem materials of biological origin. Includes amber (fossilized resin), pearl (mollusk secretion), coral (marine organism skeleton), and jet (fossilized wood).

7

Minerals containing the chromate ion (CrO4). Crocoite is the primary gem chromate.

7

Minerals containing the molybdate ion (MoO4). Wulfenite is the primary gem molybdate.

8

Minerals containing the vanadate ion (VO4). Vanadinite is the primary gem vanadate.