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Identifying minerals.
Mineral identification is an essential skill for any rockhound, not just geode enthusiasts. With the right tools and a little knowledge, it is easy to become proficient at identifying most minerals. If you approach this task with a detective mindset, it will come easily with a little practice. There are apps available that claim to identify minerals with just a snap of the camera, but most are unreliable in my opinion, and nothing is more accurate than identifying a rock of mineral by observing its physical properties.
Get a good Field Guide.
The starting point for the identification process is obtaining a quality Rock and Mineral Field Guide. It is essential to find one that lists the minerals’ physical properties, occurrences (where they are found naturally), associations, etc. A guide with pictures is also a must. There are several guides out there that include all these resources. A good online resource is the website Mindat. It is very in-depth and can be a little intimidating to those without a background in Geology or Mineralogy, but a lot of information is there, and you can pick and chose the information to use. A Geology Dictionary is very useful in deciphering the technical and scientific terms that pop up, and it will serve you well to get one of those as well.
Tools of the Trade.
Now that you have a field guide and dictionary you need to put together a rockhounds “tool kit”. What good is having a field guide containing all that useful information if you have not way of interpreting it? The good thing is you probably have most of the tools you need in your home already. There are also tool kits available for purchase online that come ready to go. I have listed below the essentials for a good testing kit.
- Streak plate (small ceramic tile).
- Glass place (small square of glass).
- Nail.
- Penny.
- Fingernail.
- Pocket knife.
- Hand lens, also referred to as a jewelers loupe.
- Dropper bottle with dilute HCl (some minerals fizz in HCl). Solution should be a 10:1 mix.
- Magnet.
- Mohs Hardness Scale (see below).
Now that you have your testing essentials, you are ready to go. Get the specimen you are wanting to identify and start gathering information. Many minerals have some of the same properties, but usually there are a few differences. Once you have an idea of the mineral you have, you can start to narrow down the possibilities. Check your observations against the information in your field guide (or vice versa). Before long you can be fairly certain of the mineral you have.
Tips to aid in mineral identification.
- Don’t rely on color alone. Most minerals come in a variety of colors.
- Pay attention to the location where you found your specimen. This is known is geology as occurrence. Some minerals are found in certain locations while others are not.
- Many minerals form together and are associated with each other. This can be useful when dealing with specimens containing more than one mineral. This is usually the case with geodes.
- Learn about the term pseudomorph.
- Keep an open mind and don’t jump to conclusions in the identification process. In most cases the rarer a mineral is, the less likely the chances are that you will have it. You most likely will not find gold or a diamond in your yard unless a family member has misplaced their jewelry.
- Try not to become overwhelmed in the identification process, especially when you are just starting out. It takes practice, and even after years of experience it can still be challenging in some cases. I have a B.S. in Geology and have had courses in Mineralogy, Igneous Petrology, Metamorphic Petrology, Sedimentation and Stratigraphy, etc. and I still have a challenge identifying a mineral at times.
- A photo alone will almost never be enough when asking for help identifying.
- There are thousands of minerals on earth, but not many are all that common. Keep that in my when identifying your specimen.
- There are many useful charts, resources, and apps on the web, but remember that anyone can post online. The information you receive is only as good as its provider. If the Facebook “friend” responding to your question is knowledgeable, you might be getting unreliable information. The inverse is also true. When in doubt, ask a reputable person.
- Beware of FAKE minerals, especially when buying.
The National Park Service has a good Mohs Hardness Scale but any will do. It’s a good idea to have a copy in your field kid so you always have one on hand.
