Silicates minerals

Actinolite

阳起石

Ca₂(Mg,Fe)₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂

Actinolite (Ca₂(Mg,Fe)₅Si₈O₂₂(OH)₂) is the iron-bearing intermediate member of the tremolite-ferro-actinolite calcic amphibole series. Its name from Greek "aktinos" (ray) refers to its…

Aegirine

霓辉石

NaFeSi₂O₆

Aegirine (NaFeSi₂O₆) is the sodium-iron end-member of the alkali clinopyroxene group, forming long prismatic black to dark-green crystals in alkaline igneous rocks.…

Albite

钠长石

NaAlSi₃O₈

Albite (NaAlSi₃O₈) is the sodium end-member of the plagioclase feldspar series and forms a complete solid-solution series with anorthite (Ca-endmember). Cleavelandite is…

Almandine

铁铝榴石

Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

Almandine (Fe₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃) is the iron-rich end-member of the garnet group and the most common garnet species. Its deep wine-red to brownish-red dodecahedral…

Analcime

方沸石

NaAlSi₂O₆·H₂O

Analcime (NaAlSi₂O₆·H₂O) is a sodium zeolite forming distinctive trapezohedral (24-sided) crystals — one of the diagnostic "cube-like" zeolites. Named from Greek "analkis"…

Andalusite

红柱石

Al₂SiO₅

Andalusite (Al₂SiO₅) is the low-pressure aluminosilicate polymorph (with kyanite high-P and sillimanite high-T). Its name comes from Andalusia (Spain). The "chiastolite" variety…

Andradite

钙铁榴石

Ca₃Fe₂(SiO₄)₃

Andradite (Ca₃Fe₂(SiO₄)₃) is the calcium-iron end-member of the garnet group and the parent of one of the most prized gem garnet varieties…

Apophyllite

鱼眼石

KCa₄Si₈O₂₀(F,OH)·8H₂O

Apophyllite (KCa₄Si₈O₂₀(F,OH)·8H₂O) is a tetragonal phyllosilicate famous for its glassy, water-clear pyramidal crystals on chalcedony or stilbite matrix in basalt cavities. The…

Augite

普通辉石

(Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)(Si,Al)₂O₆

Augite ((Ca,Na)(Mg,Fe,Al,Ti)(Si,Al)₂O₆) is the most common pyroxene-group mineral and a primary constituent of basalt, gabbro, and mantle peridotite. Its name from Greek…

Benitoite

蓝锥矿

Benitoite is the rare barium-titanium cyclosilicate that became California's state gem in 1985. Its sapphire-blue triangular dipyramidal crystals from a single deposit…

Beryl

绿柱石

Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈

Beryl (Be₃Al₂Si₆O₁₈) is a beryllium aluminum cyclosilicate famous for its gem-variety daughters: aquamarine (blue), emerald (green from Cr/V), morganite (pink from Mn),…

Biotite

黑云母

K(Mg,Fe)₃(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH,F)₂

Biotite (K(Mg,Fe)₃(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH,F)₂) is the dark iron-magnesium mica, named after physicist Jean-Baptiste Biot. It is one of the most abundant rock-forming minerals in…

Chabazite

菱沸石

(Ca,Na)₂Al₂Si₄O₁₂·6H₂O

Chabazite (Ca,Na)₂Al₂Si₄O₁₂·6H₂O is a calcium-sodium zeolite forming pseudo-cubic rhombohedral crystals in basalt cavities. Its name from Greek "chabazios" (a hailstone) describes its…

Charoite

紫龙晶

Charoite is an extremely rare lilac-to-violet potassium-sodium calcium silicate found at exactly one locality on Earth: the Murun massif in Sakha Republic…

Chrysocolla

硅孔雀石

Chrysocolla is a hydrous copper-aluminum silicate, almost always cryptocrystalline to amorphous, prized by collectors and lapidaries for its electric blue-to-blue-green color rivaling…

Clinozoisite

斜黝帘石

Ca₂Al₃(SiO₄)(Si₂O₇)O(OH)

Clinozoisite (Ca₂Al₃(SiO₄)(Si₂O₇)O(OH)) is the monoclinic counterpart of orthorhombic zoisite — same chemistry, different crystal system. It is closely related to epidote but…

Danburite

赛黄晶

CaB₂(SiO₄)₂

Danburite (CaB₂(SiO₄)₂) is a calcium borosilicate forming gemmy transparent prismatic crystals. Named after Danbury (Connecticut). It bridges the silicate-borate worlds chemically. Charcas…

Diopside

透辉石

CaMgSi₂O₆

Diopside (CaMgSi₂O₆) is the calcium-magnesium end-member of the pyroxene group, one of the most abundant mineral families in Earth's crust and mantle.…

Dioptase

透视石

CuSiO₃·H₂O

Dioptase (CuSiO₃·H₂O) is a vivid emerald-green copper silicate that ranks among the most visually striking minerals on Earth. Its color rivals gem…

Dravite

镁电气石

NaMg₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄

Dravite (NaMg₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄) is the magnesium-rich end-member of the tourmaline group, completing the species trio with iron-rich Schorl and lithium-rich Elbaite. Its name…

Elbaite

锂电气石

Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄

Elbaite (Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄) is the lithium-bearing end-member of the tourmaline group and the species responsible for the iconic gem-color tourmalines. Different trace elements…

Enstatite

顽辉石

Mg₂Si₂O₆

Enstatite (Mg₂Si₂O₆) is the magnesium end-member of the orthopyroxene group and a major rock-forming mineral in mantle peridotite, gabbro, and meteorites. Its…

Epidote

绿帘石

Ca₂(Al,Fe)₃(SiO₄)₃(OH)

Epidote (Ca₂(Al,Fe)₃(SiO₄)₃(OH)) is a calcium-aluminum-iron sorosilicate famous for its distinctive pistachio-green to dark-green color and long striated prismatic crystals. It is the…

Euclase

蓝柱石

Euclase is a beryllium-aluminum nesosilicate prized for its rare gem-grade aquamarine-blue crystals. The name (Greek "eu-klasis", easy to break) reflects its perfect…

Fayalite

铁橄榄石

Fe₂SiO₄

Fayalite (Fe₂SiO₄) is the iron end-member of the olivine group, completing the forsterite-fayalite series. Its dark green to brown color comes from…

Forsterite

镁橄榄石

Mg₂SiO₄

Forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄) is the magnesium end-member of the olivine group and one of the most abundant minerals in Earth's upper mantle. The…

Grossular

钙铝榴石

Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃

Grossular (Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃) is the calcium-aluminum end-member of the garnet group and one of the most variably colored garnet species. Its name comes…

Hardystonite

硅锌钙石

Ca₂ZnSi₂O₇

Hardystonite (Ca₂ZnSi₂O₇) is a calcium-zinc silicate found almost exclusively at the Franklin and Sterling Hill zinc deposits in Sussex County, New Jersey.…

Hedenbergite

钙铁辉石

CaFeSi₂O₆

Hedenbergite (CaFeSi₂O₆) is the iron-rich end-member of the diopside-hedenbergite continuous series in the calcium clinopyroxene group. It forms classic skarn assemblages at…

Hemimorphite

异极矿

Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂·H₂O

Hemimorphite (Zn₄Si₂O₇(OH)₂·H₂O) is a hydrous zinc silicate that forms in the oxidized cap zones of zinc-bearing ore deposits, frequently as a botryoidal…

Heulandite

钙沸石

(Ca,Na)Al₂Si₇O₁₈·6H₂O

Heulandite ((Ca,Na)Al₂Si₇O₁₈·6H₂O) is a calcium-rich aluminosilicate of the zeolite group, famous for its tabular pearly crystals lining basalt cavities. Its name honors…

Hornblende

角闪石

Ca₂(Mg,Fe,Al)₅(Al,Si)₈O₂₂(OH)₂

Hornblende is a complex calcic amphibole series — not a single species but a name historically applied to dark green-black amphiboles in…

Inesite

叶状硅锰钙石

Inesite is a rose-pink to peach-orange manganese-calcium chain silicate famous from a single world-class locality: the Yaogangxian tungsten mine in Hunan, China.…

Jadeite

硬玉

NaAlSi₂O₆

Jadeite (NaAlSi₂O₆) is the sodium-aluminum pyroxene and one of the two distinct minerals sold as "jade" (the other being nephrite, an amphibole).…

Kaolinite

高岭石

Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄

Kaolinite (Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄) is the principal clay mineral — the white-firing clay used for porcelain and china manufacturing for over 1,200 years in…

Kyanite

蓝晶石

Al₂SiO₅

Kyanite (Al₂SiO₅) is a triclinic aluminum silicate famous for its bladed habit and intense blue color, ranging from sky-blue to deep sapphire-blue.…

Labradorite

拉长石

(Ca,Na)(Al,Si)₄O₈

Labradorite (Ca,Na)(Al,Si)₄O₈ is a calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar famous for its iridescent labradorescence — a vivid blue, green, gold, and purple flash from…

Larimar

拉利玛

Larimar is a vivid sky-blue to turquoise-blue copper-bearing variety of pectolite, found exclusively at one mountain locality on Earth: the Los Chupaderos…

Lepidolite

锂云母

K(Li,Al)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(F,OH)₂

Lepidolite (K(Li,Al)₃(Si,Al)₄O₁₀(F,OH)₂) is the lithium-bearing mica, distinctive for its lavender to pink color and book-like aggregates of glittering scales. It is a…

Mesolite

中沸石

Na₂Ca₂Al₆Si₉O₃₀·8H₂O

Mesolite (Na₂Ca₂Al₆Si₉O₃₀·8H₂O) is the intermediate Na-Ca zeolite between natrolite (Na) and scolecite (Ca). It forms hair-like acicular crystals — sometimes meters-long and…