LOCALITIES
Daye, Hubei — Iron-Belt Calcite & Pyrite
Daye in Huangshi, Hubei produces iridescent calcite on golden pyrite plates. A collector's guide to the skarn geology, signature look, and how to judge quality.
Read articleLearn About Minerals (Page 4)
Page 4 of 9 · 73 guides total.
IDENTIFICATION
Streak Plates & Field Kits
Streak plates and field kits for mineral ID: how a streak test separates hematite, magnetite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite, plus the cheap tools collectors carry.
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CARE
Cleaning Specimens at Home
How to clean mineral specimens safely at home: soft brushes and distilled water, when an ultrasonic cleaner is safe, and which species acid will dissolve.
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CARE
Labeling & Cataloguing
How to label and catalogue a mineral collection: the catalog-number system, what to record for each specimen, and digital records that protect provenance.
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CHEMISTRY
Silicates — The 90% Family
Silicate minerals make up about 90% of Earth's crust. The six structural classes — neso, soro, cyclo, ino, phyllo, tectosilicates — explained for collectors.
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CHEMISTRY
Carbonates — Calcite vs. Aragonite
Calcite and aragonite share one chemistry (CaCO₃) but different structures. Learn to tell the two carbonate polymorphs apart by cleavage, hardness, and density.
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CHEMISTRY
Sulfides — Galena, Pyrite, Sphalerite
Sulfide minerals are the world's main source of base metals. Compare galena, pyrite, and sphalerite by luster, cleavage, streak, and oxidation behavior.
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BUYING
How to Buy Your First Cabinet Specimen
How to buy your first cabinet specimen (6–15 cm): judge crystal form over size, spot damage and repair, and pick beginner-friendly species that display well.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographing Your Specimens
How to photograph mineral specimens at home: a simple background and lighting setup, macro and focus-stacking technique, and honest color for true records.
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