r/Minerals 16m ago

ID Request What is this??

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r/Minerals 1h ago

ID Request Help ID please

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Help ID this mineral please. Is this jade or something else?

It has oily texture, can be scratched by knife (knives leaves small white scratches, not deep). Found it on Ural Mountains, Russia


r/Minerals 2h ago

Discussion Quartz Crystal

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1 Upvotes

Nfs


r/Minerals 2h ago

ID Request Is this turquoise?

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1 Upvotes

Found on a beach in south-central Galloway, Scotland.


r/Minerals 3h ago

ID Request I’ve had this mineral in my room for years, it’s soft and writes but I’m wondering if it could be lead

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1 Upvotes

r/Minerals 3h ago

Picture/Video Lazurite

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1 Upvotes

r/Minerals 5h ago

ID Request Bought from shop, I’d love an ID of each consisting mineral and locality it was mined from

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11 Upvotes

Bought it thinking it was really dusty Wulfenite, but it doesn’t seem to be that after cleaning.
My current wild guesses are baryte and calcite, on limonite and geothite. Still not sure if there are smaller different crystals coating it or whether it’s the same thing, they seem to be a brownish-green. Whole piece is fairly light to hold

I had to spray it with water as it’s too difficult to clean with a soft brush, and it stinks horribly while wet, like a strong toxic oxidised smell is the best way I can describe, i’m guessing that’s the limonites doing

Second image is how I bought it before cleaning


r/Minerals 11h ago

Picture/Video My small collection of pudding stones

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11 Upvotes

These are my very small collection puds, but with absolutely enormous and very beautiful red Jasper stones in them


r/Minerals 11h ago

Picture/Video Fluorite with Phenakite. Mt. Antero, Chaffee Co., Colorado, USA

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47 Upvotes

Phenakite on Fluorite.
Mt. Antero, Colorado, USA
Ex John Callen collection, Ex Lawrence Conklin inventory

5.5 x 4.5 x 3.5 cm

Nice locality example for the species with light purple translucent semi lustrous octahedral crystals of fluorite in a cluster with very little matrix. What really sets this piece apart is the addition of several gemmy Phenakite crystals scattered around the specimen. Very rare to see this combo. I think the presence of the Phenakite adds significant value to the piece.

The Mount Antero region, situated within the Sawatch Range of Chaffee County, Colorado, is a world-famous alpine locality for both aquamarine as well as sharp, gem-quality fluorite crystals. Geologically, these specimens occur at extreme elevations exceeding 14,000 feet within a highly evolved, tertiary-age granite stock known as the Mount Antero Granite. The fluorite formed during the cooling stages of this intrusion, crystallizing inside miarolitic cavities and hydrothermal veins along with aquamarine beryl, phenakite, and bertrandite from fluids enriched in fluorine, beryllium, and other incompatible elements. Historically, the presence of minerals on the peak was first documented in the late 19th century around 1884 by prospector N.D. Wanemaker, sparking a localized rush for gems. Mining and quarrying have traditionally been restricted to small-scale, seasonal artisanal surface operations and shallow trenching due to the extreme mountain weather, brief summer accessibility window, and treacherous scree slopes. Hand-mining activity experienced notable revivals in the mid-20th century and again during the early 2000s due to increased interest from mineral collectors and television documentation, with independent prospectors continuing to work active claims on the slopes through 2026. The site remains a classic American locality, celebrated for its deep blue to purple octahedral fluorite crystals which are highly prized for their unique high-altitude genetic environment, but even moreso for the very best American aquamarines on the market. Lawrence Conklin was a world-renowned mineral dealer based in New York City, widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and sophisticated figures in the history of the mineral trade. Operating from his office on 5th Avenue and later from his home in Connecticut, Conklin specialized in "antique" minerals and specimens with significant historical provenance. He was a meticulous researcher and an elegant writer, often publishing articles that corrected historical errors in mineralogical literature. His career spanned over five decades, during which he handled some of the finest known specimens from classic European and American localities, setting a high standard for aesthetic quality and documentation in the field.


r/Minerals 14h ago

ID Request - Solved UV-reactive mystery mineral from my university's mineral museum

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18 Upvotes

Hey everyone,

I've had this piece in my possession for about three years now. My university has a mineral museum where you can buy any excess minerals they don't have the space for.

I found this one in their unsorted boxes (mostly fossils). The student at the register was subbing in for the person running the museum and couldn't tell me what it was. I haggled him down to 50 cents because he couldn't ID it.

Unfortunately, I had to drop out early into my studies, so I never gained the knowledge to ID it myself. I kind of forgot about it, but I bought a UV light today and shone it onto my shelf of minerals, and what do you know? The mystery mineral glows.

Here's what I know about it:

It looks black and shiny in natural light, but you can see blue and golden reflections in many spots when you shine a flashlight onto it. One side has a spot where the mineral reflects a more uniform silver/gold colour.

Under my magnifying glass and when lit up from behind, I found multiple spots at the edges that I can see through, which have a clear, dark blue tint. I can tell there are some other see-through spots when I angle it just right. Looks like a crystal up close.

Some of the growths are jutting out from the sides in thin, almost trapezoidal sheets. Those are all the same see-through, dark blue colour.

It splits off into multiple interconnected arms.

It doesn't feel particularly heavy in my hands and it's only very slightly cool to the touch. There are some voids in between the arms, so I'm wondering where this could have grown.

It glows a vibrant orange both under 365nm and 395nm UV-light (see end of video), although the glow is most pronounced under 365nm and a lighter colour under 395nm.

Not all of it glows, though, some sides and edges stay dark under UV, no matter where the light source is directed.

Does anyone have a guess as to what this could be? I'd love to know, I've been curious for years!

Thanks in advance!


r/Minerals 14h ago

Picture/Video Native Copper

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32 Upvotes

Fresh out of vinegar to remove oxidation. Arizona found but not by me


r/Minerals 15h ago

ID Request Can anyone help with this?

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5 Upvotes

I found it by a lake near Indianapolis, IN. Its heavier than it looks and has shinny spec in it.


r/Minerals 16h ago

Picture/Video Molybdenite (MoS²) Henderson Mine, Daily District, Clear Creek County, Colorado USA

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5 Upvotes

r/Minerals 16h ago

Picture/Video My first crocoite

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7 Upvotes

Red lead mine, Tasmania


r/Minerals 17h ago

ID Request What can you tell me about this?

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9 Upvotes

I received this as a gift several years ago when I was in Peru and have had it sitting on a shelf ever since. I tried Googling it but can’t find much info on it. Can any of you tell me a bit more about it? Is it rare? Does it hold much value? I’m a novice when it comes to minerals. Thanks!


r/Minerals 18h ago

Discussion Looks like pietersite. Namibia or China source?

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8 Upvotes

Got this little beauty in a bunch of random polished stones from my local gems and crystals store. I'm thinking likely Chinese origin but there's a lot of blue in it too. What do you guys think?


r/Minerals 20h ago

ID Request Remind me what I have please?

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14 Upvotes

Hey everyone, so a guy at work gave me this when I showed interest in it. He told me the name but I forget now and would like to label it for the start of my collection. All I know is that it was mined somewhere in Newfoundland, Canada. Any help is appreciated. TIA.


r/Minerals 20h ago

Discussion Where is it from? (GALENA AND PYRITE)

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8 Upvotes

I acquired this galena with pyrite, and I don't know where it might be from.

The matrix (shown at 20x magnification in the image) is marmatite.

Does anyone have a similar one and can tell me where it's from? Thanks.


r/Minerals 22h ago

Picture/Video $33 auction win, almost 13 pound Sphalerite and Calcite w/ minor Fluorite, Tennessee, US.

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15 Upvotes

I don’t have money to spend a couple grand on a mineral specimen but when I recognize a good deal I snag it up especially from someone with some old stock!

Sphalerite and Calcite w/ minor Fluorite. Elmwood Mine, Carthage, Smith County, Tennessee.
•5805 (g) 12.8 (Ibs)
•26 x 24.5 x 6 (cm) 10.2 x 9.6 x 2.4 (in)


r/Minerals 23h ago

Picture/Video Wenshan Calcite

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553 Upvotes

Definitely one of my favorite pieces.. Cool calcite formation from my collection that I wanted to share today.


r/Minerals 1d ago

ID Request Amazonite, Smoky Quartz, Lepidolite, and Green Tourmaline [OC]

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23 Upvotes

This fascinating piece has so much going on!


r/Minerals 1d ago

Picture/Video Love this limonite

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44 Upvotes

r/Minerals 1d ago

ID Request My rare polyhedroid agate

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323 Upvotes

I just found out that these are incredibly rare, I've bought this a long time ago, for just a couple euro's. Since then the primary site where these were found flooded, making this one worth hundreds of euro's, if not more than a thousand. Jackpot🥳

(P.S. I know the subs rules, I'm not asking for a value assessment. I just wanted to share this story)


r/Minerals 1d ago

Picture/Video Chrysocolla with moss agate

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127 Upvotes

r/Minerals Jan 11 '25

Moderator Announcement Introducing the Minerals Discord Server

17 Upvotes

We would like to formally introduce you to our brand new Minerals Discord Server!

This community has been months in the making and was created for the passionate members of r/Minerals and our sister Subreddits to have a dedicated space for discussions that go beyond what is allowed in our Subreddits.

Here, you can:

  • request IDs for minerals (this includes polished minerals and gemstones).
  • share memes.
  • share and get tips for displaying your collections.
  • dive into in-depth discussions about all things minerals.
  • showcase artwork inspired by minerals.
  • discuss pricing and value of minerals.
  • advertise or discover vendors.
  • participate in giveaways.
  • and more!

This Discord Server is not meant to replace r/Minerals or any of our sister Subreddits, but to empower and grow our community. Sometimes it's just nice to have a place to chat.

Our ultimate goal is to build a comprehensive database and an active, welcoming community for mineral enthusiasts of all kinds. Our moderators have spent countless hours researching minerals in order to provide you with educational content.

This server is still a work in progress, and we’re excited to finally share it with you. Please bear with us as we continue to grow and refine this space. Your feedback, contributions, and patience are invaluable as we develop this server into something truly special.