Member,

American Federation of
Mineralogical Societies

GEM CITY ROCK and MINERAL SOCIETY

Member,

Eastern Federation of
Mineralogical and
Lapidary Societies

Home

About Us

Meetings

Pebble Pups

Gem Show

Newsletter

Field Trips

Projects

Links

Mineral Display Project

We have decided to put together a permanent collection of Minerals and Their Everyday Uses to be a part of whatever displays we create in future. We are looking for both "mineral specimens" and massive / industrial grade samples of maybe up to a dozen minerals, along with examples of things we use that are made from them. There are many more than a dozen minerals that contribute to modern life on a daily basis, so we have some flexibility in what we use, and we've created a chart to keep track of which items we have, and so what to concentrate on to complete a set. If you think of anything not in this list that you think is pretty interesting, please let me know and I’ll add it.

Check out our progress! Currently, our possibilities are:

Mineral

Uses

Nice Crystal?

Massive Specimen?

Object Made From?

Dolomite – CaMg(CO3)2

Cement

 

Y

 

Talc – Mg3Si4O10(OH)

baby powder, paints, plastics, linoleum

 

 

 

Chalcopyrite – CuFeS2

Copper ore for electrical wiring, plumbing pipes, cookware, pennies

 

 

 

Malachite – Cu2CO3(OH)2 /
Azurite – Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2

Copper ores, pigments, jewelry & decorative items

 

 

 

Pyrite – FeS2

Sulfur for Sulfuric Acid, iron ore for Steel, inks

Y

 

 

Hematite – Fe2O3

Iron ore for steel, jewelry, magnets

 

 

 

Galena – PbS  

lead ore, for lead acid batteries, lead shielding          

Y

 

 

Halite – NaCl

table salt, road salt

 

 

 

Sphalerite – ZnS

zinc ore for galvanizing steel, combining with copper for brass

 

 

 

Quartz – SiO2

Glass, ceramics, electronics

Y

Y

 

Fluorite – CaF2

toothpaste, enameling, flux for steelmaking

Y

 

 

Calcite – CaCO3

used in blackboard chalk, antacids

Y

Y

 

Kyanite – Al2SiO5

Pottery & ceramics, electronic insulator

Y

 

 

Mica (group)

Electronic insulator, windows in stoves / boilers (“isinglass”), paints and pigments, makeup

Y

 

 

 

 

And as you look around you, remember - if it's not grown, then it's mined!






updated 10 June 2010