Glossary of Terms

Showing all terms

• Abrasive
• Absolute hardness
• Absorption spectra
• Absorption spectrum
• Accessory mineral
• Acicular
• Acid
• Acid test
• Activator
• Adamantine
• Adularescence
• Adularescent
• Aggregate
• Alkali
• Alkali Feldspar
• Alkaline
• Alloy
• Alloyed
• Alloying
• Alluvial
• Alluvial deposit
• Alluvion
• Alluvium
• Alpha rays
• Alpine
• Alpine cavity
• Alter
• Alteration
• Altered
• Amalgam
• Amber
• Ammonia
• Ammonium hydroxide
• Amorphous
• Amphibole
• Amphibole group
• Amygdule
• Anhydrous
• Anhydrous borates
• Anhydrous sulfates
• Anion
• Anisotropic
• Anisotropism
• Anticline
• Antimonides
• Apatite group
• Aqua fortis
• Aqua regia
• Aqueous
• Aragonite group
• Arborescent
• Argentiferous
• Argillacious
• Arid
• Arsenates
• Arsenide
• Arsenides
• Asbestos
• Asbestos amphibole
• Asterism
• Asteroid
• Asymmetrical
• Atom
• Atomic
• Atomic structure
• Atomical
• Atomical arrangement
• Atomically
• Auriferous
• Autochthonous
• Aventurescence
• Aventurization
• Axes
• Axis
• Axis of symmetry
• Band
• Banded
• Banding
• Basal
• Basal cleavage
• Basal pinacoid
• Basalt
• Base
• Basic
• Batholith
• Bead test
• Bed
• Bedding
• Bedrock
• Belemnite
• Beta rays
• Bipyramid
• Bipyramidal
• Bipyramidal hexagon
• Bipyramidal hexagonal
• Bipyramidal hexagonal prism
• Birefringence
• Birthstone
• Bitumen
• Bituminous
• Bladed
• Blowpipe test
• Boiling point
• Bond
• Borate
• Borates
• Borax
• Botryoid
• Botryoidal
• Boule
• Brass
• Breccia
• Brecciated
• Brilliant cut
• Brilliant luster
• Brine
• Brittle
• Bronze
• Brownspar
• Bullion
• Cabochon
• Calcareous
• Calcic
• Calcite group
• Cameo
• Capillary
• Carat
• Carbonate
• Carbonates
• carbonatite
• Carlsbad twin
• Carved
• Carving
• Cassiterite twin
• Cast
• Casting
• Cat's eye
• Cat's eye effect
• Cation
• Catseye
• Cave
• Cavern
• Cavities
• Cavity
• Cementation zone
• Center of symmetry
• Chain silicates
• Chalk
• Chatoyancy
• Chatoyant
• Chemical
• Chemical bond
• Chemical composition
• Chemical formula
• Chemical structure
• Chemist
• Chemistry
• Chert
• Chondrite
• Chondrules
• Chromates
• Chrysoberyl twin
• Clast
• Clay
• Cleavable
• Cleavage
• Cleavage angle
• Cleavage face
• Cleavage fragment
• Cleavage surface
• Cleave
• Cleaved
• Cleaved surface
• Cleaving
• Clinopinacoid
• Clinopinacoidal
• Cluster
• Coal
• Coating
• Cockscomb
• Color
• Columnar
• Composition
• Compound
• Concentric
• Conchoidal
• Concretion
• Concretionary
• Conductivity
• Conductor
• Conglomerate
• Contact metamorphism
• Contact twinning
• Coprolite
• Coral
• Core
• Coxcomb
• Crater
• Crazing
• Crumbly
• Crust
• Crusty
• Cryptocrystalline
• Crystal
• Crystal aggregate
• Crystal angle
• Crystal class
• Crystal face
• Crystal group
• Crystal habit
• Crystal lattice
• Crystal structure
• Crystal symmetry
• Crystal system
• Crystalline
• Crystallization
• Crystallize
• Crystallized
• Crystallographer
• Crystallographically
• Crystallography
• ct
• Cube
• Cubic
• Cubic cleavage
• Cubic octahedron
• Cubic system
• Cuboctahedral
• Culet
• Cut
• Cyclosilicates
• Cymophane effect
• Decomposition
• Decrepitation
• Dehydration
• Deliquesce
• Deliquescent
• Dendrite
• Dendritic
• Density
• Deposit
• Detrital
• Detritus
• Devitrification
• Devitrify
• Diabase
• Diagenesis
• Diamagnetic
• Diamagnetism
• Diamondlike luster
• Diaphaneity
• Diaphanous
• Diapir
• Dichroic
• Dichroism
• Diffract
• Diffraction
• Diffused
• Diffusion treatment
• Dike
• Dimorph
• Dimorphous
• Diorite
• Dipyramid
• Dipyramidal
• Disilicates
• Dispersing
• Dispersion
• Dodecahedral
• Dodecahedron
• Dollar
• Dolomite
• Dolostone
• Double refraction
• Doublet
• Doubly terminated
• Druse
• Drusy
• Druzy
• Dry lake
• Dry lake deposit
• Ductile
• Ductilibility
• Ductility
• Dull
• Dull luster
• Dump
• Dusting
• Earth science
• Earthy
• Earthy luster
• Eclogite
• Effervesce
• Effervescence
• Effervescent
• Effloresce
• Efflorescence
• Efflorescent
• Eightling
• Elastic
• Electric
• Electrical
• Electricity
• Electromagnetic radiation
• Electrometallurgy
• Electron
• Element
• Elements
• Elongated
• Embedded crystal
• Emerald
• Emerald cut
• Empirical formula
• Enaniotropic
• Encrust
• Encrustation
• Encrusting
• End member
• Engrave
• Engraving
• Environment
• Epimorph
• Epitaxial overgrowth
• Epitaxy
• Epithermal vein
• Epsom salts
• Equant
• Equidimensional
• Eroded
• Erosion
• Euhedral
• Evaporate
• Evaporation
• Evaporite
• Evaporite deposit
• Even
• Even fracture
• Exfoliate
• Extract
• Extraction
• Extraterrestrial
• Extrusive
• Face
• Facet
• Faceted
• Faceting
• Fault
• Feldspar
• Feldspar group
• Feldspathoid
• Feldspathoid group
• Felsic
• Ferrian
• Ferroginous
• Ferromagnetic
• Ferromagnetism
• Ferrous
• Fiber
• Fibrous
• Filiform
• Fire
• Fishtail twin
• Fissile
• Fissility
• Flaky
• Flame test
• Flat
• Flaw
• Flawless
• Flexibility
• Flexible
• Flexible and elastic
• Flexible but inelastic
• Floater
• Floater crystal
• Flow banding
• Flowstone
• Fluoresce
• Fluorescence
• Fluorescent
• Fluorescent lamp
• Fluorite twin
• Fluvial
• Fluvial deposit
• Flux
• Fold
• Foliated
• Form
• Formula
• Fossil
• Fossiliferous
• Fossilization
• Fossilize
• Fossilized
• Fourling
• Fracture
• Framework silicates
• Freezing point
• Friable
• Fulgurite
• Fumarole
• Fusion
• Gabbro
• Gamma rays
• Gangue
• Gangue material
• Garnet Group
• Garnet paper
• Geiger counter
• Gem
• Gemminess
• Gemmy
• Gemological
• Gemologist
• Gemology
• Gemstone
• Geode
• Geologic
• Geological
• Geologist
• Geology
• GIA
• Gilson Process
• Girdle
• Glass
• Glassy luster
• Glauber's salt
• Globular
• Gneiss
• Goniometer
• Gossan
• Grain
• Grainy
• Gram
• Granite
• Granitic
• Granular
• Gravel
• Gravity
• Greasy
• Greasy luster
• Greenschist
• Greenstone
• Group
• Grouping
• Guano
• Gwindel
• Habit
• Hackly
• Halides
• Halogen
• Hard water
• Hardness
• Hardness testing kit
• HCl
• Heart
• Heat treated
• Heat treating
• Heat treatment
• Hemimorphic
• Hemispherical
• Hexagon
• Hexagonal
• Hexagonal bipyramid
• Hexagonal bipyramidal
• Hexagonal shape
• Hexoctahedral
• Hexoctahedron
• Hopper
• Hornfels
• Host mineral
• Hot spring
• Humite group
• Hydrate
• Hydrated
• Hydration
• Hydrocarbons
• Hydrochloric acid
• Hydrofluoric acid
• Hydrometallurgy
• Hydrothermal
• Hydrothermal Method
• Hydrothermal Vein
• Hydrous
• Hydrous borates
• Hydrous sulfates
• Hydroxides
• Hydroxyl
• Hygroscopic
• Hygroscopy
• Hypothermal vein
• Icosahedra
• Icosahedral
• Icosahedron
• Icosi-tetrahedron
• Idiochromatic
• Igneous
• Igneous rock
• IMA
• Impure
• Impurities
• Impurity
• In Situ
• Included
• Inclusion
• Incrust
• Incrustation
• Incrusting
• Index of refraction
• Indiscernible
• Inelastic
• Infiltration
• Ingot
• Inorganic
• Inosilicates
• Insoluble
• Intaglio
• Intermediary
• Intermediary Member
• Intrusion
• Intrusive
• Intrusive rock
• Ion
• Iridesce
• Iridescence
• Iridescent
• Irradiate
• Irradiated
• Irradiating
• Irradiation
• Isometric
• Isomorph
• Isomorphism
• Isomorphous
• Isotropic
• Isotropization
• Isotype
• Isotypism
• Isotypous
• Ivory
• Jagged
• Japanese law twin
• Japanese twin
• Jet
• Jewel
• Jeweler
• Jewelry
• K
• K-spar
• Karat
• Karst
• Kimberlite
• Kt
• Lab
• Laboratory
• Labradoresce
• Labradorescence
• Labradorescent
• Laccolith
• Lamellar
• Laminated rock
• Lanthanides
• Lapidaries
• Lapidary
• Lattice
• Lava
• Lenticular
• Light
• Light reflection
• Light refraction
• Limestone
• Litmus paper
• Locality
• Lode
• Longwave
• Loupe
• Lubricant
• Luminesce
• Luminescence
• Luminescent
• Luster
• Lustrous
• LW
• Macle
• Macrocrystalline
• Mafic
• Magma
• Magmatic
• Magmatite
• Magmatite rock
• Magnesia
• Magnet
• Magnetic
• Magnetic field
• Magnetism
• Malleability
• Malleable
• Mammilary
• Mantle
• Marble
• Marquise
• Massive
• Matrix
• Melee
• Melting point
• Mesothermal vein
• Metal
• Metallic
• Metallic elements
• Metallic luster
• Metallurgy
• Metamict
• Metamiction
• Metamorphasized
• Metamorphic
• Metamorphic rock
• Metamorphism
• Metamorphosed
• Metasilicate chains
• Metasilicate rings
• Metasilicates
• Metasomatically
• Metasomatism
• Metastability
• Metastable
• Meteor
• Meteoric
• Meteorite
• Meteoroid
• Mica
• Mica group
• Micaceous
• Microcrystal
• Microcrystalline
• Micromount
• Miller Index
• Miller indices
• Mine
• Miner
• Mineral
• Mineral group
• Mineral series
• Mineral show
• Mineralogical
• Mineralogically
• Mineralogist
• Mineralogy
• Mineraloid
• Mining
• Mixed crystal
• Mohs Hardness scale
• Mohs Scale
• Molecular
• Molecular arrangement
• Molecular structure
• Molecule
• Mollusk
• Molten
• Molten rock
• Molybdates
• Monochromatic
• Monoclinic
• Monotropic
• Mother of pearl luster
• Mother rock
• Mother-of-pearl
• Mottled
• Multicolored
• Multiple oxides
• Mylonite
• Nacre
• Nacreous
• Native
• Native elements
• Natural glass
• Nepheline syenite
• Nesosilicates
• Neutron
• Nitrate
• Nitrates
• Nitrates Group
• Nitric acid
• Nodular
• Nodule
• Non-crystalline
• Non-metallic
• Non-metallic elements
• Nonbrittle
• Nonmetal
• Nuclei
• Nucleus
• Nugget
• Obsidian
• Occurrence
• Ochre
• Octacube
• Octagon
• Octahedra
• Octahedral
• Octahedral cleavage
• Octahedral cube
• Octahedron
• Oil of vitriol
• Oiling
• Oily luster
• Oolite
• Oolitic
• Opalesce
• Opalescence
• Opalescent
• Opalization
• Opalize
• Opaque
• Open Pit
• Optical
• Optical properties
• Optics
• Ore
• Organic
• Orthorhombic
• Orthosilicates
• Outcrop
• Oval
• Overtone
• Oxidation
• Oxidation minerals
• Oxidation zone
• Oxide
• Oxides
• Oxidize
• Oxidized
• Oxidized zone
• Paleontologist
• Paleontology
• Pallasite
• Panning
• Paragenesis
• Paramagnetic
• Paramagnetism
• Paramorph
• Parting
• Patina
• Pear
• Pearl
• Pearly
• Pearly luster
• Pegmatite
• Pendant
• Penetration
• Penetration twin
• Penetration twinning
• Pentagonal dodecahedron
• Percussion figure
• Peridotite
• Periodic table
• Perky box
• Petrifaction
• Petrification
• Petrified
• Petrified wood
• Petrographer
• Petrographic microscope
• Petrography
• Petroleum
• Petrologist
• Petrology
• pH
• Phantom
• Phantom growth
• Phenocryst
• Phosphate
• Phosphates
• Phosphoresce
• Phosphorescence
• Phosphorescent
• Photochromism
• Phyllosilicates
• Physicist
• Physics
• Piezoelectric
• Piezoelectricity
• Pinacoid
• Pinacoidal
• Pinacoidal cleavage
• Pipe
• Pisolite
• Pisolitic
• Pit
• Pitchlike luster
• Pitchy
• Placer
• Placer deposit
• Plagioclase twin
• Plane
• Plane of symmetry
• Planetoid
• Plate
• Plate-like
• Plated
• Platy
• Playa
• Pleochroic
• Pleochroism
• Plug
• Plumose
• Plutonic
• Plutonic rock
• Pocket
• Point
• Polished
• Polishing
• Polychromatic
• Polyhedron
• Polymerization
• Polymorph
• Polymorphism
• Polymorphous
• Polysynthetic twinning
• Polysynthetic twins
• Polytype
• Porcelaneous
• Porous
• Porphry
• Porphyritic
• Porphyry
• Potash
• Potash feldspar
• Potassium feldspar group
• Potspar
• Precious gemstone
• Precious metal
• Precious stone
• Precipitating
• Precipitation
• Primary
• Primary mineral
• Princess
• Prism
• Prismatic
• Prismatic cleavage
• Prospect
• Prospecting
• Prospector
• Proton
• Pseudo
• Pseudo-octahedral
• Pseudo-octahedron
• Pseudocube
• Pseudocubic
• Pseudohexagon
• Pseudohexagonal
• Pseudomorph
• Pseudomorphed
• Pseudomorphism
• Pt
• Pure
• Pyncnometer
• Pyramidal
• Pyritohedral
• Pyritohedron
• Pyroelectric
• Pyroelectricity
• Pyrometallurgy
• Pyrosilicates
• Pyroxene
• Pyroxene group
• Quarried
• Quarries
• Quarry
• Quartz group
• Quartzite
• Radial
• Radiating
• Radiation
• Radical
• Radioactive
• Radioactivity
• Rare earth
• Rare earth elements
• REE
• Reflection
• Reflective
• Refract
• Refraction
• Refractive index
• Refractive indices
• Refractometer
• Relative density
• Reniform
• Repeated twinning
• Repeated twins
• Replace
• Replaced
• Replacement
• Replacing
• Resinlike luster
• Resinous
• Resinous luster
• Resistance
• Resistant
• Reticulated
• Rhomb
• Rhomb-scalenohedron
• Rhombic
• Rhombic dodecahedron
• Rhombohedral
• Rhombohedral cleavage
• Rhombohedron
• Rhyolite
• Rift
• Ring silicates
• Rock
• Rock crystal
• Rock shop
• Rock show
• Rock-forming mineral
• Rosette
• Rough
• Round
• Rust
• Rusting
• Rutilated
• Rutile twin
• Saccharoidal
• Saline
• Saline deposit
• Saline lake
• Salinity
• Salt
• Salt dome
• Salt Lake
• Sand
• Sandstone
• Sassuritization
• Scalenohedral
• Scalenohedron
• Scales
• Scaly
• Scepter
• Schiller
• Schist
• Sclerometer
• Scoria
• Secondary
• Secondary mineral
• Sectile
• Sectility
• Sediment
• Sedimentary
• Sedimentary rock
• Sedimentation process
• Selenides
• Selvage
• Semi-metal
• Semi-metallic
• Semi-metallic elements
• Semi-precious
• Semi-precious gemstone
• Series
• Setting
• Shaft
• Shale
• Sheaflike
• Sheet silicates
• Shelly fracture
• Shortwave
• Silica
• Silica gel
• Silica group
• Silicafied
• Silicate
• Silicates
• Siliceous
• Silky
• Silky luster
• Sill
• Silt
• Simple oxides
• Simple sulfides
• Sinter
• Sixling
• Skarn
• Skeletal
• Slab
• Slag
• Slate
• Smelt
• Smooth fracture
• Snakehead
• Soil
• Solid solution
• Solidify
• Solubility
• Soluble
• Solution
• Solvent
• Sorosilicates
• Spar
• Specific gravity
• Specimen
• Spectra
• Spectral
• Spectrograph
• Spectrometer
• Spectrophotometer
• Spectroscope
• Spectroscopy
• Spectrum
• Sphenoidal
• Spherical
• Spherulite
• Spherulitic
• Spinel twin
• Spinel-law twin
• Splendent luster
• Splinter
• Splintery
• Splintery fracture
• Square
• Stable
• Stalactite
• Stalactitic
• Stalactitically
• Stalagmite
• Stalagmitic
• Staurolite twin
• Stellate
• Stock
• Stone
• Strahler
• Strata
• Stratification
• Stratum
• Streak
• Streak plate
• Striated
• Striations
• Structural
• Structure
• Stubby
• Stud
• Sub-metallic
• Subconchoidal
• Subconchoidal fracture
• Subgroup
• Sublimate
• Sublimation
• Submetallic
• Sulfate
• Sulfates
• Sulfide
• Sulfides
• Sulfosalt
• Sulfosalts
• Sulfuric acid
• Surrounding rock
• SW
• Swallowtail twin
• Syenite
• Symmetrical
• Symmetry
• Synthesized
• Synthetic
• Synthetic gem
• Tabular
• Tarnish
• Tectosilicates
• Tellurides
• Tenacity
• Tenebrescence
• Tenebrescent
• Terminated
• Termination
• Tetragonal
• Tetragonal trisoctahedron
• Tetrahedral
• Tetrahedron
• Texture
• Thermal
• Thermoluminescence
• Thermoluminescent
• Thumbnail
• Tourmaline group
• Transformation
• Translucency
• Translucent
• Transparency
• Transparent
• Trap rock
• Trapezohedra
• Trapezohedral
• Trapezohedron
• Trapiche
• Traprock
• Triboluminescence
• Triboluminescent
• Trichroic
• Trichroism
• Triclinic
• Trigonal
• Trilling
• Trillion
• Triplet
• Trisoctahedral
• Trisoctahedron
• True phosphates
• Trunk
• Tube test
• Tuberose
• Tufa
• Tufacious spring
• Tuff
• Tumbled
• Tumbler
• Tumbling
• Tungstates
• Tungstates and Molybdates
• Tungstens
• Twin
• Twinned
• Twinned crystal
• Twinning
• Type locality
• Ultrabasic
• Ultramafic
• Ultraviolet
• Ultraviolet lamp
• Ultraviolet light
• Uneven
• Uneven fracture
• Unstable
• UV
• UV lamp
• Vanadates
• Variable formula
• Variety
• Vein
• Vent
• Venting
• Vermeil
• Verneuil process
• Vesicle
• Vitreous
• Vitreous luster
• Vitriol
• Volatilize
• Volcanic
• Volcanic rock
• Volcanism
• Volcano
• Vug
• Vulcanism
• Waterworn
• Waxlike luster
• Waxy
• Waxy luster
• Weathered
• Weathering
• Wheat sheaf
• Wheat sheaves
• White light
• Widmanstatten lines
• Widmanstatten pattern
• Wires
• Wiry
• Wolframates
• X-ray
• Xenolith
• Zeolite
• Zeolite group
• Zoning