Mineral Health

Quartz Nut

SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide)

Kidney Stone

Nephrolithiasis (Calcium Oxalate, Hydroxyapatite, or Uric Acid)

Turquoise

Hydrated phosphate of copper and aluminium: CuAl6(PO4)4(OH)8·4H2O

Kidney Stone

Calcium Oxalate (CaC2O4), Uric Acid, or Struvite

Aquamarine

Beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18)

Fossilized Coral

Scleractinia (Agatized or Calcite replaced)

Blue Tiger's Eye (Hawks Eye)

Pseudomorph of Quartz after Crocidolite (SiO2)

Green Jasper

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron silicate inclusions

Chevron Amethyst

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron impurities

Serpentine

(Mg,Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4

Ruby (Pink to Red Corundum)

Al2O3 (Corundum with Chromium impurities)

Rose Quartz

Silicon dioxide (SiO2) with trace amounts of titanium, iron, or manganese

Serpentinite

Serpentinite (Hydrated magnesium iron silicate)

Yellow Jade

Jadeite or Nephrite (NaAlSi2O6 or Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2)

Jade

Jadeite or Nephrite

Serpentine

(Mg,Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4

Tree Agate

Chalcedony with Dendritic Chlorite (SiO2 with impurities)

Serpentinite (probable)

Serpentinite; chiefly serpentine-group minerals (antigorite, lizardite, chrysotile), commonly with magnetite and relic olivine/pyroxene

Oyster Shell (Aragonite/Calcite)

Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)

Tumbled Green Jasper

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with mineral inclusions

Serpentine (Serpentinite)

Antigorite, Lizardite, and Chrysotile: (Mg,Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4

Red Jasper

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)

Actinolite

Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2

Aragonite Star Cluster

Aragonite (Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3)

Serpentinite

Serpentinite (Mg, Fe, Ni, Al, Zn, Mn)2-3(Si, Al, Fe)2O5(OH)4

Chrysotile Serpentine (Asbestos in Matrix)

Chrysotile Mg3Si2O5(OH)4

Serpentine

Serpentinite (group of hydrous magnesium iron phyllosilicate minerals)

Malachite

Malachite (Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 - a copper carbonate hydroxide mineral)

Staghorn Coral Specimen

Acropora cervicornis (Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3)

Jasper (specifically Bloodstone or Heliotrope variety)

Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with iron oxide inclusions

Precious Red Coral

Corallium rubrum (Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3)

Chrysotile Asbestos

Chrysotile [Mg3Si2O5(OH)4]

Chrysotile Asbestos

Chrysotile (Mg3Si2O5(OH)4)

Serpentine

Serpentine Group Minerals (e.g., Antigorite, Chrysotile, Lizardite)

Unknown Organic Object (likely a berry or fruit)

Not applicable; this is not a geological specimen. If it were a cranberry, its scientific name would be Vaccinium macrocarpon; if a cherry, it would be Prunus avium or Prunus cerasus.

Metal Alloy (Likely Pewter or Sterling Silver)

Not a natural geological specimen; composed of refined metals. If pewter, it's a tin-based alloy. If sterling silver, it's 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metals (usually copper).

Serpentine

Antigorite / Lizardite / Chrysotile (Mg, Fe, Ni, Al, Zn, Mn)2-3(Si, Al, Fe)2O5(OH)4

Serpentinite

Serpentinite (composed primarily of serpentine group minerals like lizardite, chrysotile, or antigorite; Mg3Si2O5(OH)4)

Jade

There are two distinct minerals classified as Jade: Jadeite (Na(Al,Fe3+)Si2O6) and Nephrite (Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2). Based on the image showing translucent, somewhat fibrous material, it is likely Nephrite.

Nephrite Jade

Nephrite (a variety of the mineral actinolite within the amphibole group); Chemical Formula: Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Si8O22(OH)2

Serpentine

Serpentinite (rock), Serpentine group minerals (e.g., Antigorite, Lizardite, Chrysotile)

Serpentinite (Commonly known as Serpentine)

Antigorite, Lizardite, or Chrysotile [(Mg,Fe)3Si2O5(OH)4]