The properties of minerals: From hardness to luster
Each mineral has its own unique set of properties.
Tag: minerals
Silicate minerals: the building blocks of the Earth
Silicates are by far the most common type of mineral on Earth.
The most valuable minerals — and why they matter so much
What's your favorite precious mineral?
How do minerals form? Everything you need to know
Minerals are the building blocks of rocks and the storytellers of Earth's history. They're the Legos of our planet.
What’s the difference between rocks and minerals
The primary difference between rocks and minerals lies in their composition and formation.
Hematite: mineral characteristics, properties, uses
Hematite forms through various geological processes and is even found on Mars.
Granite geology: how granite forms, minerals, and composition
Granite is one of the most intriguing types of rock -- and one of the most common type of igneous ...
There’s a museum in Japan that honors rocks which resemble human faces
Among them, you'll find ET or even Jesus.
Mars’ water didn’t escape; it’s trapped in the red crust
Not being tectonically active has its drawbacks.
Big Data predicts 1,500 mineral species are waiting to be found. Ten have already been discovered
Big data is opening the flood gates for a new age of discovery in geology. As for the industry, billions ...
Silica rains helped form Earth’s crust four and a half billion years ago
Talk about hailstone, right?
We may face a huge shortage of essential raw materials stiffling green energy if governments don’t step up their game
Mining is dirty work. But more to the point, it's very slow to set-up.
Martian minerals might bear signatures of ancient life
Findings alien life on barren planet like Mars seems unlikely, but the discovery of the century might that of past ...
Fungi eat yummy minerals from rocks using acid and mechanical force
Fungi were thought to have a minimal impact on minerals' bioweathering. A recent study suggests that fungi are a lot ...
Catalog of rarest Earth minerals might shed light on how the planet formed, but also origin of life
There are over 5,000 mineral species identified by scientists thus far, but fewer than 100 make up the entire planet's ...
Atomic structure of bone deciphered for the first time
Bone is a really awesome material, being hard and flexible at the same time. For something so ubiquitous and studied for so ...