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| A mineral, a natural object and an element, usual occurs with specific physical properties and chemical composition. Mineral is essential for the formation of the rock, ore, and soil. According to the study of mineralogy, a mineral is defined as follows： |
| a. |
A mineral is a naturally occurring homogeneous solid, formed by single element or inorganic compound; |
| b. |
A mineral is a body produced by the processes of inorganic nature; |
| c. |
Every distinct chemical compound occurring in inorganic nature, having a definite molecular structure or system of crystallization and well-defined physical properties, constitutes a mineral species; |
| d. |
Minerals are naturally occurring inorganic substances with a definite and predictable chemical composition and physical properties. |
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Mineral |
description |
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Aquamarine
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yes |
Paragenesis often occurs between hexagonal aquamarine and muscovite; both aquamarine and muscovite are the valuable minerals nourished by the nature.
(Museum Collection Number:NMNS000906-P003213) |
Amber
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no |
Amber is the formation by an organism, pine resin, and it is not a mineral. |
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| Golden ring, silver necklace, and pencil lead are made of minerals. On the contrary, artificial gems, amber formulated by pine resin, pearls, and calculus inside the human bodies are not minerals. |
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There are in total 3,000 found minerals in the world, but they are not given the names in uniform. They are often named according to the followings:
| By chemical composition |
| Native gold (Au, see the right photo, Museum Collection Number: NMNS002784-P004805); Vanadinite (Pb5Cl (VO4)3); Ilmenite (FeTiO3). |
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| By physical properties |
| Tourmaline (electrothermal); Barite (great specific gravity); Calcite ( rhombohedral cleavage); Malachite ( see the right photo, peacock green color, Museum Collection Number: NMNS003553-P007103 ); Olivine (olive green color). |
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| By chemical composition and physical properties |
| Galena (see the right photo, PbS, cleavage mass, Museum Collection Number: NMNS000906-P003227); Pyrite (FeS2, light yellow copper color); Azurite (Cu (CO3)2(OH) 2, blue color); Magnetite (Fe3O4, magnetic). |
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| By crystal structure |
| Cross Stone (see the right photo, corss crystal, Museum Collection Number :NMNS000906-P003242). |
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| By physical properties and crystal structure |
| Beryl (see the right photo, green, pillar crystal, Museum Collection Number: NMNS000393-P001975); Andalusite (liget red color, pillar crystal). |
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| By geographic location |
| Hokutolite (see the right photo,Hokutolite,Peitou, Taipe,Museum Collection Number: NMNS001976-P004123); Kaoline(Gaoling, Jingde Township, Jiangxi) |
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| By the name of explore |
| Wavellite (see the right photo, Wavellite, Museum Collection Number: NMNS000273-P001722) which was discovered by an Englishman, William Wavell, in 1805; Lawsonite was named in memory of the American explorer, A.C.Lawson. Smithsonite is the name given by the founder of Smithsonian Institution, Mr. J.Smithson |
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Chinese name of minerals often ends with “mineral,” “stone,” or “Jade.” For those who have the mental luster or have the mental composition, they will be given the ending name of mineral such as Hermatite and Sphalerite. Those without the mental luster are given the name of stone such as Microcline, Tourmaline, and Olivine; those who can use as gems are called in the name of jade such as topaz and corundum.
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Classification of Representative Minerals |
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There is a great diversified classification of minerals, but the most common one is crystal chemical structure classification according to the chemical composition and crystal structure of minerals. The system works as: Class>(Sub-class)>Group>(sub-group)>Type>(Sub-type)
Class:Representative Minerals with same dominant anion or anion bonds. Representative Minerals often can be categorized into 15 classes as followings.
| Classification |
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| presentative |
| Representative Mineral |
| Native Gold |
| Chemical Composition |
| Au |
| Classification |
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| Halides |
| Representative Mineral |
| Halite |
| Chemical Composition |
| NaCl |
| Classification |
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| Nitrates |
| Representative Mineral |
| Niter |
| Chemical Composition |
| KNO3 |
| Classification |
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| Borates |
| Representative Mineral |
| Borax |
| Chemical Composition |
| Na2B4O7.10H2O |
| Classification |
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| Chromates |
| Representative Mineral |
| Crocoite |
| Chemical Composition |
| PbCrO4 |
| Classification |
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| Phosphate |
| Representative Mineral |
| Apatite |
| Chemical Composition |
| Ca5(F,Cl,OH) (PO4)3 |
| Classification |
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| Arsenates |
| Representative Mineral |
| Erythrite |
| Chemical Composition |
| Co3(AsO4)2.8H2O |
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| Classification |
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| Sulphides & Sulfosalts |
| Representative Mineral |
| Pyrite |
| Chemical Composition |
| FeS2 |
| Classification |
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| Oxides & Hydroxides |
| Representative Mineral |
| Magnetite |
| Chemical Composition |
| Fe3O4 |
| Classification |
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| Carbonates |
| Representative Mineral |
| Calcite |
| Chemical Composition |
| CaCO3 |
| Classification |
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| Tungstates |
| Representative Mineral |
| Scheelite |
| Chemical Composition |
| CaWO4 |
| Classification |
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| Phosphate |
| Representative Mineral |
| Apatite |
| Chemical Composition |
| Ca5(F,Cl,OH) (PO4)3 |
| Classification |
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| Vanadates |
| Representative Mineral |
| Vanadinite |
| Chemical Composition |
| Pb5Cl(VO4)3 |
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Sub-class:When having different structure of anion bonds, minerals will be divided into a sub-class ; for example, there are six sub-classes under silicate.
| Neosilicates |
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| Representative Mineral:Olivine |
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| Sorosilicates |
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| Representative Mineral:Hemimorphite |
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| Cyclosilicates |
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| Representative Mineral:Beryl |
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| Inosilicates |
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| Representative Mineral:Diopside |
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| Phyllosilicates |
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| Representative Mineral:Muscovite |
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| Tectosilicates |
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| Representative Mineral:Quartz |
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Group:Representative Minerals with the similar chemical composition and crystal structure in the same group or sub-group can be categorized in a group. For example, Feldsper group of Tectosilicates or pyroxene and hornblendeof Inosilicates( as follows).
| Tectosilicates |
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| Representative Mineral:pyroxen |
Sub-group:If the number of mineral group is too big, then we can divide them into sub-group according to charged ions and crystal structure. For example, Feldsper Group has two sub-groups, microcline and orthoclass.
| Microcline |
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| Representative Mineral:Albite |
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| Orthoclass |
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| Representative Mineral:Orthoclase |
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Type:Representative Minerals in the same group and sub-group with the same chemical composition and crystal structure can be identified as a type.
Sub-type:The same type of minerals with different physical properties and different content of trace element can be identify as a sub-type. For example, amethyst, smoky quartz, citrine and rose quartz are the sub-types of quartz.
| Representative Mineral:Sub-types of quartz |
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| Amethyst |
Smoky quartz |
Citrine |
Rose quartz |
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Minerals and human life have the close relations due to the wide application of chemical composition or physical properties. Because of the chemical properties of minerals, we are able to enhance living quality and lay down the solid foundation for economic development. Along with the industrial and technological advancement, the demand for mineral resources has been increasing; however, minerals are non-renewable resources and how to use resources on the earth more efficiently is an urgent issue that humans need to tackle with. In terms of the economic use, minerals can be categories into three classes:
| 1. Metallic Mineral |
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Hematite
NMNS000393-P002058 |
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Native Silver with its paragenesis, Native Copper
NMNS000906-P003261 |
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Marmatite with its paragensis, Calcite
NMNS000677-P002705 |
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Minerals and human life have the close relations due to the wide application of chemical composition or physical properties. Because of the chemical properties of minerals, we are able to enhance living quality and lay down the solid foundation for economic development. Along with the industrial and technological advancement, the demand for mineral resources has been increasing; however, minerals are non-renewable resources and how to use resources on the earth more efficiently is an urgent issue that humans need to tackle with. In terms of the economic use, minerals can be categories into three classes: (1)Metallic Mineral: Hematite(Museum Collection Number: NMNS000393-P002058) Native Silver with its paragenesis, Native Copper (Museum Collection Number:NMNS000906-P003261) Marmatite with its paragensis, Calcite(Museum Collection Number:NMNS000677-P002705) Many minerals such as native elements, sulfides, Sulfosalts and oxide contain precious or basic metals. Because these metals are able refine valuable gold, silver, platinum, copper, iron, nickel, zinc, cobalt, titanium, manganese, breithauptite, tin, tungsten,lead, iridium,vanadium, chromium, and bismuth. For example, steel and iron are made of Hematite, Magnetite, and Limorite. Gold and silver used for ornament are refined from native gold , and silver, argentite. Stainless steel and chromium used for electroplating come from Chromite. Heat resistant material requires tungsten refined from wolframite. Cooper refines from chalcopyrite, native copper, covellite, chalcocite, and bronite. Lead used for making pipe, cable, battery, and bronze and zinc used for steel galvanization come from Galena or Sphalerite. |
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| 2. Non-metallic Minerals |
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Dolomite
NMNS003121-P006340 |
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Barite
NMNS000906-P003257 |
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Anhydrite
NMNS003553-P007061 |
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This type of mineral has its wide application; for example, rock salt is used for both industry and food seasoning. Quartz, clay mineral, feldspar, Wollastonite is the material of glass and pottery. Bauxite, dolomite, fluorite, borax, sulfur are used for metallurgical, chemical, and fire-resistant material. Asbestos, barite, graphite, lepidolite, talc, and gypsum can be applied to industrial, construction, and manufacturing material; saltpeter, apatite, sylvite, and Glauconite are used to manufacture fertilizers of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. |
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| 3. Gemstone and semi-gemstone |
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Emerald
NMNS002784-P004833 |
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Rhodochrosite
NMNS002784-P004830 |
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Amazonite
NMNS000677-P002722 |
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This type of mineral has the characteristics of being beautiful, higher in hardness, and scarce and the common ones are diamond, corundum (ruby and sapphire ), topaz , beryl (emerald, aquamarine, Alexandrite, heliodor ), spinel, t ourmaline , garnet ; olivine , j adeite , amphibole ( nephrite ), zircon , spodumene, amethyst , agate , blue chalcedony , turquoise , malachite , rhodochrosite ; amazonite , and celestine. |
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Mineral Collection and Characteristics |
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Penghu Separate Rock
NMNS000832-P003045 |
Enargite
NMNS000168-P000897 |
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National Museum of Natural Science collected specimen related to the earth and biological evolution and minerals has become the important collection. The collection, the largest of its kind in Taiwan, in the past decade has accumulated 200 types and 1,000 pieces of specimen.
The collections include the local minerals such as Penghu separate rock (calcite, aragonite, and siderite), Hokutolite ,enargite, galena, alunite, barite, pyrite ,native gold, Luzonite, sulfur, graphite, amphibole, talcum, actionlite, dolomite, rhodonite, blue chalcedony (Taiwan's blue sapphire), nephrite (jade), garmet, calcite, gypsum, limonite, magnetite, chromite, pyrrhotite, muscovite, quartz, and violane. On the other hand, we collected minerals worldwide and most of them are large crystal, transparent, and unique in shape. Some of them are:
- Scarce Minerals:Schuilingite, cavansite, osarizawaite, agrellite, magnesite, paratacamite, platinian, carrollite, pyromorphite, co1emanite, cornetite; turquoise, pyrope; and Villiaumite
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Schuilingite
NMNS003121-P006396 |
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- Pseudomorphs:The pseudomorphs of malachite, goethite, sphalerite, thenardite, and Hematite.
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Goethite
NMNS003121-P006375 |
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- Twinkling Fluorescent Mineral:Willemite, legrandite, blende, calcite, fluorite, salt rock, aragonite, scheelite, and ruby.
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Willemite and cacite are the paragenesis minerals.
NMNS000393-P002068 |
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- Minerals of Changeable Forms:Pyrite,hematite, and calcite.
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Pyrite
NMNS000677-P002742 |
Pyrite
NMNS000906-P003262 |
Pyrite
NMNS000393-P002052 |
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- Mysterious Mineral Inclusion in Quartz:The inclusion of rutile, dolomite, hedenbergite, and ajoite.
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β-Quartz, hedenbergite inclusion
NMNS003553-P007109 |
Ajoite Inclusion
NMNS000906-P003287 |
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- Elegant Twin:Gypsum, aragonite and calcite.
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Selenite/Gypsum
NMNS000273-P001801 |
Aragonite
NMNS000393-P002021 |
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- Scarce Mineral Structure:Malachite crystal, twin cuspidal head quartzes.
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Malachite crystal
NMNS003121-P006419 |
Twin cuspidal head quartzes
NMNS000677-P002719 |
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These series of collection presents the physical and chemical properties of minerals and rocks and they also demonstrate the relations between minerals and human life, an epitome of the mineral world in Mother Nature.
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| | Objective and Future Prospect of Digital Mineral Collection | |
"The Project of Digital Mineral Collection" is expected to be completed in three years. We have selected the 378 pieces of the 191 type representative specimen from both collections originating domestically and worldwide. According to current common used chemical classification, we started filing work. In the first year(2001), the focus was the native elements, sulfide, halide, carbonate, borate, and chromate and in the second year(2002), we worked on oxide, sulfate, nitrate, phosphate, molybsate, tungstate, vanadic anhydride, arsenate. And in the third year(2003), it is silicons silicate. The chemical composition, physical properties(hardness, crystal structure, luster, streak, color, and specific gravity), field condition, distribution(both domestic and international) and reference of each mineral is presented in text and photo and microfiche image. Some specimen has the 3 dimension presentation. It is hoped that with these, we are able to present visitors of the collections in the Museum and facilitate the understanding of minerals. Meanwhile, we are able to meet the demand of mineral lovers and provide reference for teaching and research for each school and institution.
Furthermore, under the consideration of exhibition and science education, after the completion, we will hold the exhibition of different educational themes to present visitors the diversified characteristics of minerals virtually and lead the visitors to a mysterious but beautiful world of minerals.
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